DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for arthrogryposis multiplex congenita — screening already-approved drugs against its 40-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleArthrogryposis multiplex congenita maps to a 40-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 arthrogryposis multiplex congenita 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
torsin family 1 member A (TOR1A) — TOR1A 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 atpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 5J1S · 1.399 Å · ligand ADENOSINE-5'-TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a 1968 review of forty-five patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita treated between 1952 and 1964, the authors reported a very high incidence of recurrence of deformity, especially at the ankle and foot, following correction by casts, braces, surgery, or combinations of these. Treatment had to be constant, prolonged, and radical, and position had to be maintained with braces or casts until the end of growth to minimise recurrence. Thirty-three patients were followed for an average of 7.4 years, and the conclusion was that fair to good results could be achieved in many cases with prolonged treatment using casts, splints, braces, and multiple radical soft-tissue and bone operations.
A 1998 study described a new method of open reduction for bilaterally dislocated hips using an extensive anterolateral approach on ten hips in five children. The mean age at surgery was 31.5 months (range 17 to 64 months) and mean follow-up was 11.8 years (range 3.8 to 19.5 years). No specific outcome data on success or complication rates were given in the abstract. A 2010 study of seven children (ten dislocated hips) treated with open reduction through an anteromedial approach reported a mean age at surgery of 5.5 months (range 3 to 11 months) and mean follow-up of 9.5 years (range 2 to 13 years). The mean sum of joint range of motion in flexion and abduction improved from 108° preoperatively to 125° postoperatively. At last evaluation, eight hips were centred and two were subluxated. Two hips (20%) presented significant signs of Ogden type IV avascular necrosis. Eight hips had good results and two were fair.
A 2017 review of treatment strategies for lower extremity contractures and deformities in arthrogryposis noted that treatment goals range from comfortable seating and shoe wear to independent ambulation, with the overarching intention of maximising independence and function. The authors stated that treatment of hip and knee contractures and dislocations has become more interventional, whereas treatment of foot deformities has paradoxically become much less surgical. This synopsis was based on presentations from the second international symposium on arthrogryposis held in Saint Petersburg, Russia in September 2014.
What remains missing are prospective controlled trials comparing surgical approaches, standardised outcome measures that capture functional independence rather than radiographic alignment alone, and any pharmacological intervention tested in this population. The evidence base consists entirely of small retrospective case series and expert opinion, with no randomised comparisons and no data on patient stratification by severity or genetic subtype.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery · 1968 · 289 citations
Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita
AbstractForty-five patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita treated at the Los Angeles Unit of the Shriners' Hospitals for Crippled Children between 1952 and 1964 were reviewed. The prenatal course, birth history, and family history of most of the patients were also investigated. The results of various surgical procedures used to treat these patients were analyzed. The patients were classified according to pretreatment involvement of both the upper extremities and lower extremities, and also according to total involvement. The interim or end results were rated in a similar manner. Thirty-three of the patients who were followed two years or more were evaluated. The average length of follow-up in this group was 7.4 years. Two conclusions were made on the basis of this detailed study of forty-five patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita: 1. There is a very high incidence of recurrence of deformity, especially at the ankle and foot, following correction by casts, braces, surgery, or combinations of the three. Many times the surgery must be repeated. Treatment must be constant, prolonged, and radical. After the deformities are corrected, the position must be maintained with braces, casts, or bivalved casts until the end of the growth period in order to minimize recurrence. 2. With prolonged treatment using casts, splints, braces, and multiple radical soft-tissue and bone operations, deformities can be corrected, and fair to good results can be achieved in many cases.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume · 1998 · 66 citations · open access
Surgical management of hip dislocation in children with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita
AbstractA rthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a rare disease with multiple joint contractures. It is widely believed that bilaterally dislocated hips should not be reduced since movement is satisfactory and open reduction has had poor results. Since 1977 we have performed a new method of open reduction using an extensive anterolateral approach on ten hips in five children with AMC. The mean age at surgery was 31.5 months (17 to 64) and the mean follow-up was 11.8 years (3.8 to 19.5).
Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics · 2017 · 25 citations
Treatment of the Lower Extremity Contracture/Deformities
AbstractLower extremity deformities of patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita present a wide spectrum of severity and deformity combinations. Treatment goals range from merely ensuring comfortable seating and shoe wear, to fully independent and active ambulation, but the overarching intention is to help realize the patient’s greatest potential for independence and function. Treatment of hip and knee contractures and dislocations has become more interventional, whereas treatment of foot deformities has paradoxically become much less surgical. This article synopsizes the treatment strategies presented in September 2014 in Saint Petersburg, Russia at the second international symposium on arthrogryposis.
Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia (English Edition) · 2010 · 8 citations · open access
OPEN REDUCTION OF HIP DISLOCATION IN PATIENTS WITH ARTHROGRYPOSIS MULTIPLEX CONGENITA – AN ANTEROMEDIAL APPROACH
AbstractUNLABELLED: To evaluate the results from surgical treatment of hip dislocation through the anteromedial approach, in patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC). METHODS: The medical files and radiographs of seven children with AMC who presented hip dislocation (total of 10 dislocated hips) were retrospectively reviewed. Pre and postoperative joint mobility was evaluated by summing the joint range of motion in flexion and abduction. The acetabular angle and height of the femoral neck before the operation, and the continuity of the Shenton arc, Sharp angle and center-edge (CE) angle after the operation, were evaluated radiographically. When avascular necrosis was identified, it was classified in accordance with Ogden and Bucholz. RESULTS: The mean age of the children at the time of the surgery was 5.5 months (range: 3 to 11 months). The mean duration of follow-up for the patients was 9.5 years (range: 2 to 13 years). The mean amplitude of the sum of the joint range of motion in flexion and abduction in the preoperative examination was 108° (range: 70° to 155°) and postoperatively, it was 125° (range: 75° to 175°). In the last evaluation, eight hips were found to be centered and two were subluxated. Two hips had been subjected to Salter iliac osteotomy. Two hips (20%) had presented significant signs of Ogden type IV avascular necrosis. Eight hips had good results while two were fair. CONCLUSION: We consider that the anteromedial approach is a good option for treating hip dislocation in very young patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita.
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care · 2002 · 8 citations
Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block for Shoulder Surgery in a Patient with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita
AbstractA five-year-old child with severe arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and malnutrition underwent surgery for chronic osteomyelitis of the head of the left humerus. The child had typical features of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, including a difficult airway. Propofol was used for induction and maintenance. Spontaneous respiration was maintained with a nasal airway. Analgesia was provided with an interscalene brachial plexus block placed using a nerve stimulator. No opioid was given. The child had an uneventful recovery with good postoperative analgesia. The anaesthetic implications of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita are discussed.
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.
