Interactive network medicine for drug repurposing and disease module identification

Traditional drug discovery is experiencing an efficacy crisis, prompting a shift towards the repurposing of registered drugs as a cost-effective and expedited alternative. The process of identifying disease modules—pathways and sub-networks that elucidate the mechanisms of complex diseases and contain potential drug targets—is hindered by the dispersion of necessary data across various independent databases. Existing studies are constrained by disease-specific predictions and non-translational algorithmic approaches, creating a pressing need for adaptable tools that enable biomedical researchers to apply network-based drug repurposing to their unique use cases. To address this need, we introduce NeDRex, an integrative and interactive platform designed for network-based drug repurposing and disease module discovery. NeDRex consolidates information from ten diverse data sources, encompassing genes, drugs, drug targets, disease annotations, and their interrelationships. The platform facilitates the construction of heterogeneous biological networks, the extraction of disease modules, the prioritization of drugs targeting these mechanisms, and the statistical validation of findings.