DeCure's autonomous Metabolic AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for antiphospholipid syndrome — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleAntiphospholipid syndrome maps to a 1-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
approvedHydroxychloroquineApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside antiphospholipid syndrome in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
toll like receptor 7 (TLR7) — TLR7 is one of the genes in this disease's Open Targets module — part of the target space DeCure's repurposing candidates point at. The protein backbone is drawn as a cartoon.
Loading structure…
helix sheet apo structuredrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 7CYN · 4.2 Å · ligand none (apo structure). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Antiphospholipid syndrome is a disorder of recurrent thrombosis, pregnancy loss and thrombocytopenia linked to persistently positive anticardiolipin or lupus anticoagulant tests. By 1996, there was good evidence that patients with thrombosis would suffer recurrences and require long-term, possibly lifelong, oral anticoagulation; steroids and immunosuppressive drugs aimed at reducing antibody levels had not provided long-term benefit. The 2006 review noted that understanding the molecular and intracellular events triggered by antiphospholipid antibodies, including complement activation and interaction with serine proteases of the coagulation system, might establish new therapeutic strategies. It also mentioned newly described potential beneficial roles of hydroxychloroquine and statins for treatment of clinical manifestations.
In catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS), defined by thrombosis in more than three organs or systems developing over a short period, mortality remains high despite conventional treatment with anticoagulation plus corticosteroids plus plasma exchange and/or intravenous immunoglobulin. Some patients suffer recurrent CAPS episodes. A 2014 review discussed rituximab as a possible treatment option in selected patients, but provided no trial data or response rates. A 2012 review noted that antiphospholipid syndrome is a rare cause of ocular vaso-occlusive disease with significant systemic morbidity and mortality, and that new guidelines for treatment and management had been established by the 13th International Committee on Antiphospholipid Antibodies, though the pathophysiology remained poorly understood.
No controlled trial has yet defined optimal thrombotic prophylaxis in antiphospholipid syndrome. The evidence for hydroxychloroquine, statins, or rituximab remains limited to reviews and rationales, not prospective data. What is missing are adequately powered randomised controlled trials, standardised patient stratification by clinical phenotype and antibody profile, and dedicated funding to move beyond case series and expert opinion.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Current Opinion in Internal Medicine · 2006 · 89 citations
Antiphospholipid antibodies and the antiphospholipid syndrome: an update on treatment and pathogenic mechanisms
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: The antiphospholipid syndrome is a disorder of recurrent thrombosis, pregnancy loss and thrombocytopenia associated with the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and persistently positive anticardiolipin or lupus anticoagulant positive tests. Since its recognition in the 1980s, growing interest in the field, not only with respect to diagnosis and treatment, but also regarding the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid antibodies, has emerged. RECENT FINDINGS: First, this review addresses the recently updated classification criteria for diagnosis and treatment of the antiphospholipid syndrome. A discussion on the newly described potential beneficial roles of hydroxychloroquine and the statins for the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome-associated clinical manifestations is included. Importantly, this article analyzes recent data that examine the molecular and intracellular events that antiphospholipid antibodies trigger in target cells, as well as new findings in the identification of the receptors for these antibodies on the membrane of those cells. A separate section discusses novel pathogenic mechanisms of antiphospholipid antibodies, including the activation of complement and their interaction with homologous catalytic domains of several serine proteases of the coagulation system. SUMMARY: Understanding the molecular interactions and the intracellular signaling that antiphospholipid antibodies trigger, new therapeutic and targeted strategies to ameliorate clinical manifestations in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome may be established.
Management of Thrombosis in the Antiphospholipid Syndrome
AbstractOptimal management of patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) remains a problem. There is now good evidence that those with thrombosis will be subject to recurrences and require long-term, possibly lifelong, oral anticoagulation. Steroids and immunosuppressive drugs aiming at a reduction of the antibody levels have not provided long-term benefit. Only prospective and controlled clinical trials can give a definitive answer to the optimal thrombotic prophylaxis in patients with the APS.
Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease · 2014 · 30 citations · open access
Rituximab and its therapeutic potential in catastrophic antiphospolipid syndrome
AbstractThe catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is characterized by thrombosis in more than three organs or systems developing over a short period of time. Despite conventional treatment with a combination of anticoagulation plus corticosteroids plus plasma exchange, and/or intravenous immunoglobulin, mortality remains high and some patients suffer from recurrent CAPS episodes. In selected patients, new therapies such as rituximab may be a treatment option. In this review, the rationale for using rituximab in CAPS is discussed.
Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Candidate Therapies for a Potentially Lethal Disease
AbstractCatastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a potentially lethal disease that presents with rapidly progressive multiple organ thromboses. Anticoagulation, corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange are the most commonly used treatments for CAPS patients. However, the high mortality despite these medications necessitates new treatment strategies. Following a brief review of current diagnostic and management strategies, we discuss the candidate therapies, i.e., hydroxychloroquine, rituximab, eculizumab, sirolimus, and defibrotide, that can be considered in CAPS patients refractory to traditional treatment.
Current Opinion in Ophthalmology · 2012 · 21 citations
Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Antiphospholipid syndrome is a rare cause of ocular vaso-occlusive disease, but is associated with significant systemic morbidity and mortality. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment is essential. RECENT FINDINGS: Although the pathophysiology of antiphospholipid syndrome continues to be poorly understood, there has been continued progress with regard to the relationship between antiphospholipid antibody and its target, β-2-glycoprotein I. Due to numerous limitations with standard serologic evaluation, new approaches to the evaluation of patient serum are being considered. New guidelines for the treatment and management of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome have been established by the 13th International Committee on Antiphospholipid Antibodies. SUMMARY: A better understanding of the pathophysiology behind antiphospholipid antibody syndrome has led to novel approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Trends in Urology & Men s Health · 2023 · 1 citations · open access
Antiphospholipid syndrome, thrombosis and multidisciplinary management
AbstractManagement of antiphospholipid syndrome is unusual for an autoimmune disease in that the mainstay of treatment is not immunosuppression. Here the authors describe some of the thrombotic events that characterise the disease. They also look at diagnosis (again a challenge because there are no diagnostic criteria) and the need for multidisciplinary care.
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.
