DeCure's autonomous Immuno AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for allergic conjunctivitis — screening already-approved drugs against its 33-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleAllergic conjunctivitis maps to a 33-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for allergic conjunctivitis is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
FKBP prolyl isomerase 1A (FKBP1A) — FKBP1A is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet 4~{s},5~{r},6~{z},9~{s},10~{s},12~{e}drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6I1S · 1.52 Å · ligand (4~{S},5~{R},6~{Z},9~{S},10~{S},12~{E})-16-(ethylamino)-4,5-dimethyl-9,10,18-tris(oxidanyl)-3-oxabicyclo[12.4.0]octadeca-1(14),6,12,15,17-pentaene-2,8-dione (E26). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Allergic conjunctivitis is reported to be increasing in prevalence in the United States, significantly impacting quality of life and productivity, and is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Nasal and ocular symptoms are equally bothersome in the majority of patients. Current best practice for diagnosis and treatment includes an algorithm with step recommendations for antihistamines, mast cell stabilisers, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunotherapy. The term allergic conjunctivitis may not sufficiently describe all forms of allergic eye disease, and a new classification system derived from varied pathophysiological mechanisms is desirable. Recent research has further characterised the roles of inflammatory and structural cells in ocular allergic inflammation, and improved diagnostic methods have been developed to assess underlying causes.
Despite histamine being a major mediator, topical antihistamines often provide only temporary relief. Some second-generation antihistamines — ketotifen, epinastine, and olopatadine — demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties such as inhibition of histamine release from mast cells and interference with cytokine and adhesion molecule production from cord blood and conjunctival mast cells. Cromolyn, nedocromil, topical corticosteroids, and immunotherapy, especially sublingual immunotherapy, are among other modes of therapy examined. The review of immunomodulators focuses on cyclosporine A and tacrolimus, which have been extensively studied in severe conjunctivitis such as atopic and vernal keratoconjunctivitis with promising results. Several immunomodulatory options are currently available, bringing about better therapeutic outcome for patients, particularly those on the severe end of the spectrum.
The underlying immune responses of ocular allergies are complex, indicating a critical need to understand the pathophysiology behind these diseases. Extensive research over several years has provided valuable insight into the pathophysiology associated with different forms of allergic conjunctivitis. Further clarification of the mechanisms associated with different forms of ocular allergy is essential for improved methods of classification, diagnosis, and treatment.
What is still missing is a classification system that reliably maps pathophysiology to clinical presentation, which would allow better patient stratification. The evidence for immunomodulators like cyclosporine A and tacrolimus is limited to severe forms of the disease, and no large randomised controlled trials are cited that compare these agents head-to-head against standard therapy in a general allergic conjunctivitis population. Funding for such trials and for the development of diagnostic tools that can distinguish subtypes of ocular allergy in routine practice remains inadequate.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings · 2013 · 82 citations
An algorithm for the management of allergic conjunctivitis
AbstractAllergic conjunctivitis has been reported to be increasing in prevalence in the United States. It significantly impacts patient quality of life and reduces their productivity. It has been noted that nasal and ocular symptoms are equally bothersome in the majority of patients. Despite the development of new therapeutic interventions, ocular allergy is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. This article outlines current best practices regarding diagnosis and treatment of allergic conjunctivitis; suggests criteria for referral to a colleague with different expertise; and provides an algorithm for step recommendations including treatment with antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunotherapy.
Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology · 2013 · 31 citations
Immunomodulators for conjunctivitis
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Allergic conjunctivitis is an IgE-mediated inflammatory of conjunctiva. Despite the fact that histamine is a major mediator in this condition, use of topical antihistamines often gives only temporarily relief. Therapeutic agents aiming at inflammatory cascades of the disease are desirable particularly in cases with prolonged and severe allergic conjunctivitis. The article reviews these new treatment armamentariums with regard to their mechanism of actions and clinical efficacy. RECENT FINDINGS: Some second generation of antihistamines demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties such as inhibition of histamine release from mast cells as well as interference with the production cytokines and adhesion molecules from cord blood and conjunctival mast cells. Among these agents, ketotifen, epinastine and olopatadine are agents of major interest and are thus reviewed. Cromolyn, nedocromil, topical corticosteroids and immunotherapy, especially sublingual immunotherapy, are among other modes of therapy examined. Finally, the review focuses on cyclosporine A and tacrolimus, immunomodulators that have been extensively studied in the therapy of severe conjunctivitis such as atopic and vernal keratoconjunctivitis with promising results. SUMMARY: Several immunomodulatory options are currently available for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. These therapeutic availabilities bring about a better therapeutic outcome for patients with allergic conjunctivitis, particularly those on the severe end of the spectrum.
Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology · 2007 · 25 citations
Classification of ocular allergy
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this article is to summarize the clinical presentations associated with the classification of ocular allergy. This article also serves to summarize recent findings of pathophysiological mechanisms associated with ocular allergy and to highlight recently improved diagnostic methods for ocular allergic inflammation. RECENT FINDINGS: The term allergic conjunctivitis may not sufficiently describe all forms of allergic eye disease, thus a new classification system is desirable, preferably derived from the varied pathophysiological mechanisms operating in the different forms of ocular allergy. Recent published material has further characterized the roles that inflammatory and structural cells have in ocular allergic inflammation. Improved diagnostic methods have also been developed to assess the underlying causes of ocular allergy. SUMMARY: The underlying immune responses of ocular allergies are complex, indicating the critical need to understand the pathophysiology behind these diseases. Extensive research over the past several years has provided valuable insight into understanding the pathophysiology associated with the different forms of allergic conjunctivitis. Further clarification of the mechanisms associated with different forms of ocular allergy is essential for improved methods of classification, diagnosis, and treatment.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
