DeCure's autonomous Cardio AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for basal ganglia cerebrovascular disease — 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 moduleBasal ganglia cerebrovascular disease 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
No approved-drug candidate for basal ganglia cerebrovascular disease 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.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2009 case report describes biotin-responsive basal ganglia disease as a rare childhood neurological disorder that is treatable if suspected and diagnosed. The diagnosis was suspected clinically, corroborated by neuroimaging, and followed by a dramatic response to biotin therapy. Only a few cases had been reported in the literature before that report.
A 2021 paper states there is no efficient treatment to prevent the evolution of Parkinson's disease, a basal ganglia disorder. It notes that Parkinson's is generated by multiple concurrent factors, which is a serious obstacle for developing etio-pathogenic treatments. The paper comments on the ability of astrocytes to control proposed causes of Parkinson's and on procedures that can be used to promote their neuroprotective action, but does not report any clinical trial results or patient outcomes.
A 1957 volume on modern therapy in neurology covers the therapy of cerebrovascular disease and basal ganglia disorders, among others, and presents a program of management that includes pharmacological agents. A 1981 paper on neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism reviews medications for drug-induced parkinsonism and summarises common errors in diagnosis and management. A 1942 book on diseases of the basal ganglia is noted only as a published volume.
No controlled trial data, survival figures, or response rates for any drug in basal ganglia cerebrovascular disease are provided in these abstracts. What is missing is any randomised trial of biotin for this indication, any prospective study of astrocyte-targeted therapy in patients, and any stratification of patients by aetiology or imaging findings.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
PLoS ONE · 2011 · 45 citations · open access
Inhibition of Striatal Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase-cGMP Signaling Reverses Basal Ganglia Dysfunction and Akinesia in Experimental Parkinsonism
AbstractOBJECTIVE: There is clearly a necessity to identify novel non-dopaminergic mechanisms as new therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease (PD). Among these, the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)-cGMP signaling cascade is emerging as a promising candidate for second messenger-based therapies for the amelioration of PD symptoms. In the present study, we examined the utility of the selective sGC inhibitor 1H-[1], [2], [4] oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) for reversing basal ganglia dysfunction and akinesia in animal models of PD. METHODS: The utility of the selective sGC inhibitor ODQ for reversing biochemical, electrophysiological, histochemical, and behavioral correlates of experimental PD was performed in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats and mice chronically treated with MPTP. RESULTS: We found that one systemic administration of ODQ is sufficient to reverse the characteristic elevations in striatal cGMP levels, striatal output neuron activity, and metabolic activity in the subthalamic nucleus observed in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. The latter outcome was reproduced after intrastriatal infusion of ODQ. Systemic administration of ODQ was also effective in improving deficits in forelimb akinesia induced by 6-OHDA and MPTP. INTERPRETATION: Pharmacological inhibition of the sGC-cGMP signaling pathway is a promising non-dopaminergic treatment strategy for restoring basal ganglia dysfunction and attenuating motor symptoms associated with PD.
Biotin-Responsive Basal Ganglia Disease: A Treatable and Reversible Neurological Disorder of Childhood
AbstractBiotin-responsive basal ganglia disease is a rare childhood neurological disorder of uncertain etiology that is treatable if suspected and diagnosed. Only few cases have been reported earlier in literature. We report a case of biotin-responsive basal ganglia disease suspected clinically, corroborated by neuroimaging and a dramatic response to biotin therapy.
AbstractJournal Article Diseases of the Basal Ganglia Get access Diseases of the Basal Ganglia. Edited by Tracy J. Putnam, M. D., (Chairman), Angus M. Franz, M. D., and S. Walter Ranson, M. D. Cloth. Price, $10. Pp. 719, with 268 illustrations. Baltimore: The Williams and Wilkins Company, 1942. Physical Therapy, Volume 22, Issue 3, May 1942, Page 172, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/22.3.172b Published: 01 May 1942
Astrocytes, a Promising Opportunity to Control the Progress of Parkinson’s Disease
AbstractAt present, there is no efficient treatment to prevent the evolution of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is generated by the concurrent activity of multiple factors, which is a serious obstacle for the development of etio-pathogenic treatments. Astrocytes may act on most factors involved in PD and the promotion of their neuroprotection activity may be particularly suitable to prevent the onset and progression of this basal ganglia (BG) disorder. The main causes proposed for PD, the ability of astrocytes to control these causes, and the procedures that can be used to promote the neuroprotective action of astrocytes will be commented upon, here.
Archives of Neurology And Psychiatry · 1957 · 2 citations
Modem Therapy in Neurology
Abstract"Modern Therapy in Neurology" discusses in detail the specific therapies of neurology, but perhaps more important by far is the strong emphasis placed on the plans for general management of the various neurological disorders. The amalgamation of the concepts of the "next step" in neurological therapy has been difficult, and this volume does much to give it impetus. The cooperation of twenty-two authors has been enlisted by the editor to discuss under broad headings the therapy of infections, trauma, vascular disease, etc. Care has been taken to cover the therapy of all phases of the various disease processes and the complications which accompany them. The sections covering cerebrovascular disease, seizure disorders, demyelinating disease, and basal ganglia are of special interest not only because they are the commonest disorders in neurology but because of the well-outlined program of management presented. These programs include not only the important pharmacological agents for therapy
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuroleptic-Induced Parkinsonism
AbstractBasal ganglia side-effects caused by neuroleptic drugs are frequently ignored, misdiagnosed, or mistreated by the patient or physician. Such side-effects must be anticipated and appropriate management instituted so that patient compliance with the drug regimen is increased and the therapeutic relationship is maintained. Side-effects can be detected in frequent and complete examinations of the head and neck, limbs, and chest and back. The various medications for drug-induced parkinsonism are reviewed, with an emphasis on the indications for selection and the effects of each drug. Common errors in the diagnosis and management of side-effects of neuroleptic drugs are summarized.
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.
