CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) -UVA School of Medicine scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to speed up drug discovery.

The tool predicts who may benefit and how drugs work in the body. It’s called LogiRx.

With the new AI tool, experts found that the antidepressant Lexapro may help prevent heart failure, a leading cause of death in the United States.

More research is needed, but scientists say it could help find new uses for existing drugs.

“One of the most exciting uses for this is in not just finding totally new drugs, but for repurposing drugs that are already shown to be safe for humans and for other indications,” UVA Professor of Biomedical Engineering Jeff Saucerman said. “It’s really critical that this benefits from NIH funding.”

More research and clinical trials are needed before doctors prescribe Lexapro for heart health.

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