ABSTRACT
Multiple tuberculosis (TB) drug development campaigns capitalize on drugs already approved by regulatory authorities including those originally indicated for diseases of a non-infectious aetiology but additionally exhibit antimicrobial properties, such drugs are referred to as non-antibiotics. This chapter highlights recent repositioning approaches for TB with emphasis placed on non-antibiotics as alternative therapeutics and starting points for lead discovery and optimization. These drugs carry appeal for diversifying the chemical space occupied by current antitubercular agents and also show potentiality against recalcitrant TB. Moreover, they hold promise as antimicrobials for some neglected tropical diseases prioritized by the World Health Organization. Non-antibiotics are targeted in myriad drug discovery and development campaigns as potential novel therapeutics, adjuvants or adjuncts for TB chemotherapy. Repositioning non-antibiotics appears to be a plausible alternative to de novo drug discovery approaches in efforts to replenish drug pipelines against infectious diseases, particularly those endemic in low-income regions.
