Hybrid Policy Kick-off Event:Innovative and Sustainable Modelsfor Drug Repurposing
BRUSSELS
JANUARY 15, 2025
12:00 PM
THE AGENDA
12:00 PM
Lunch reception
1:00 PM
Welcome
Arjon van Hengel – EC, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD.D PEOPLE, HEALTH&SOCIETY), Deputy Head of Unit D2 Health Innovations & Ecosystems (BE)
Monica Ensini – EC, Health & Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), Unit A3 Health research, REPO4EU Project Adviser (BE)
1:05 PM
What are the validated research innovations in drug repurposing?
Harald Schmidt – REPO4EU Coordinator, Maastricht University (NL)
1:25 PM
Stimulating commercial investment in pharmaceutical development of drug repurposing research outputs
David Cavalla – Numedicus (UK)
1:45 PM
Panel 1 - The patients' and patient organisations' view
Marcos Mengual Hinojosa – Syngap Elternhilfe e.V. (DE)
Anneliene H. Jonker – Duchenne Parent Project (NL)
Ellen Koekoeckx – Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (US)
Joachim Maurice Mielert – Aktionsbündnis Patientensicherheit e.V. (DE)
Bernd Rosenbichler – Branewo (DE)
2:15 PM
Panel 2 - Regulatory innovations facilitating drug repurposing
Matthew L. Fedowitz – Buchanan (US)
Aaron S. Kesselheim – Harvard Medical School (US)
Yoana Nuevo Ordóñez – AEMPS, Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (ES)
Marjon Pasmooij – CBG MEB Medicines Evaluation Board (NL)
Anja Schiel – NOMA Norwegian Medical Products Agency (NO)
2:45 PM
Coffee break
3:15 PM
Panel 3 - Successes and roadblocks in bringing drug repurposing to the patient
Saco de Visser – FAST Centre for Future Affordable and Sustainable Therapy Development (NL)
Hugo A. L. Filipe – RePo-SUDOE, Polytechnic of Guarda (PT)
Teun Grooters – Arega Medical (NL)
Hermann Mucke – H.M. Pharma Consultancy (AT)
3:45 PM
Panel 4 - Innovating reimbursement of repurposed drugs for fair returns on investments
François Houÿez – EURORDIS European Organisation for Rare Diseases (FR)
Sabine Grimm – Maastricht University Medical Center+ (NL)
Sibylle Reichert – Association Internationale de la Mutualité (BE)
Sibren van den Berg – Amsterdam UMC, RARE-NL (NL)
4:30 PM
Open discussion, recap and roadmap
Harald Schmidt – REPO4EU Coordinator, Maastricht University (NL)
Artur Olesch – about Digital Health (DE)
5:15 PM
Networking, drinks and healthy snacks
6:00 PM
Wrap-up and farewell
WHEN?
We will be gathering in Brussels on January 15, 2025, from 12 pm to 6 pm (local time). This first policy event will serve as an open platform to discuss the SIG goals and develop a roadmap to advocate for a EU-wide reimbursement strategy for repurposed drugs.
WHERE?
The event will take place at NH Brussels Carrefour de l’Europe, on Rue Marche aux Herbes 110, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. This is a face-to-face event but if it’s impossible for you to join in person, there will be an option to connect online.

































