Freakonomics Radio

664. Are Thousands of Medical Cures Hiding in Plain Sight?

February 20, 2026·51 min·5-min readnarrativescience
Podzilla Summary (5 min)
TLDR
This episode of Freakonomics Radio, guest-hosted by economist Steve Levitt, explores the untapped potential of repurposing existing drugs to treat rare and deadly diseases, highlighting both the scientific promise and the broken economic incentives that prevent widespread adoption. The st

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Guest

D

David Fajgenbaum

narrative on Freakonomics Radio

Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

David FajgenbaumSteve LevittHeather StoneChris SnyderMichael KremerRachel GlennersterSarrin Chethik

Companies

PfizerGSKSerum Institute of India

Products & Tools

sirolimusrapamycinnitroxolineLyricalidocaineCure ID

Research & Papers

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Topics

Data ScienceEconomicsScientific Method

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