So if I summarize correctly they re-evaluated already “FDA passed” but abandoned substances for anti-cancer workings using new techniques (CRISPR) and got 50 hits. That’s amazing! Would this work in other fields as well?
There aren't actually that many low hanging therapeutic fruit out there, mostly we have to actually do the work to discover new mechanisms and make new compounds to target them.
And even if they get the right targets, finding drugs with an effective therapeutic index is hard.
This might be a useful screening technique...but it's not the first high throughput screening method. They might have some successes, only trials will tell.
You still have to prove that your formulation is safe,of course, and prove efficacy for the situation you intend to market it for.
I think the current stats are that the average drug time to approval is 14 years.