Huberman Lab

Using Existing Drugs in New Ways to Treat & Cure Diseases of Brain & Body | Dr. David Fajgenbaum

566 snips
Nov 3, 2025
Guest
David Fajgenbaum
Dr. David Fajgenbaum, a physician-scientist and founder of EveryCure, shares his remarkable journey from battling Castleman's disease to pioneering drug repurposing. He reveals how existing medications, like aspirin and Viagra, can treat unexpected conditions. David emphasizes the importance of mindset in recovery and discusses innovative methods, including AI, to find effective treatments for diseases once deemed untreatable. His insights highlight the urgent need for collaboration between patients and medical professionals to explore novel therapies.
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A Promise Made In The ICU

  • David Fajgenbaum vowed to spend his remaining time finding repurposed drugs after doctors said there were no more options.
  • He believed the 4,000 existing drugs should help any patient who can benefit from them.
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Existing Drugs Are Underleveraged

  • There are ~4,000 FDA-approved drugs but many affect multiple pathways and could treat more diseases.
  • The system lacks incentives and infrastructure to systematically discover and apply these alternate uses.
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Lidocaine Before Breast Surgery

  • EveryCure found a large randomized trial where perioperative lidocaine reduced 5-year breast cancer mortality by ~29%.
  • Despite low cost and limited downside, uptake remained minimal worldwide.
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