The drug is Esomeprazole - a common remedy for gastric reflux and indigestion.
Part of the research team Professor Stephen Tong says the discovery was made when researchers looked into potential benefits of medications that are already safe to take during pregnancy.
Pre-eclampsia often has no early warning signs.
It's usually detected during antenatal check-ups with the combination of a rising blood pressure and protein in the urine.
Late stage symptoms may include swelling particularly in the face, severe headaches, blurred vision and vomiting.
