DeCure's autonomous Cardio AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for brain aneurysm — 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 moduleBrain aneurysm 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 brain aneurysm 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
fragile histidine triad diadenosine triphosphatase (FHIT) — FHIT 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 frudrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 1FIT · 1.85 Å · ligand beta-D-fructofuranose (FRU). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
The abstracts provided contain no clinical trial data and no drug efficacy results. The 2023 review states that inflammation is linked to aneurysms and that a number of medications have been proposed to treat this condition, but it explicitly notes that medication can only control aneurysms to a limited extent and is usually used as an adjunct to surgical treatment. No specific drug names, doses, or outcome measures appear in any of the supplied texts. The 1996 immunohistochemical study of ten human aneurysm walls found strong patchy expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in all lesions and diffuse basic fibroblast growth factor expression in nine of ten, alongside disorganised matrix proteins, but this is descriptive biology, not a therapeutic intervention.
The 2011 case report describes one 61-year-old man with a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery aneurysm compressing the brainstem, treated endovascularly with coiling and complete angiographic occlusion. One month after the procedure he reported marked improvement with residual difficulty walking; at one year he reported nearly complete resolution of symptoms. This is a single case, not a drug study, and the intervention was mechanical, not pharmacological. The 1966 and 2008 papers discuss pathogenesis and haemodynamics respectively, with no treatment data. The 1998 management review calls for rigorous academic evaluation of prevention, screening, and surgical and endovascular advances, but offers no results.
Across all abstracts, there is no evidence for any drug repurposing candidate in brain aneurysm. The biological rationale for targeting angiogenesis factors or inflammation is speculative, and the 2023 review explicitly limits medication to an adjunctive role. What is missing is any controlled clinical data on pharmacological agents, any patient stratification by aneurysm rupture status or genetic risk, and any trial design that measures drug effect on growth or rupture rather than symptom palliation. Funding for such trials and a clear molecular target validated in human tissue beyond descriptive staining would be required before any drug could be tested meaningfully.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics · 2008 · 462 citations · open access
Hemodynamics of Cerebral Aneurysms
AbstractThe initiation and progression of cerebral aneurysms are degenerative processes of the arterial wall driven by a complex interaction of biological and hemodynamic factors. Endothelial cells on the artery wall respond physiologically to blood-flow patterns. In normal conditions, these responses are associated with nonpathological tissue remodeling and adaptation. The combination of abnormal blood patterns and genetics predisposition could lead to the pathological formation of aneurysms. Here, we review recent progress on the basic mechanisms of aneurysm formation and evolution, with a focus on the role of hemodynamic patterns.
AbstractJournal Article THE PATHOGENESIS OF CEREBRAL ANEURYSMS Get access M. R. CROMPTON M. R. CROMPTON From the Neurosurgical Department of St. George's Hospital at Atkinson Morley's Hospital, and the Department of Pathology, St. George's Hospital Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Brain, Volume 89, Issue 4, December 1966, Pages 797–814, https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/89.4.797 Published: 01 December 1966
Expression of Angiogenesis Factors and Selected Vascular Wall Matrix Proteins in Intracranial Saccular Aneurysms
AbstractOBJECTIVE: Little is known about the biological mechanisms associated with the genesis, growth, and rupture of intracranial saccular aneurysms. It is postulated that the vascular wall pathological response of aneurysmal disease is associated with abnormal angiogenesis factor expression. METHODS: We have examined the expression and distribution of immunoreactivity to angiogenesis growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor) and selected vascular wall matrix proteins (fibronectin, Type IV collagen, and alpha smooth muscle actin) in the walls of human intracranial aneurysms from surgical biopsy or autopsy specimens. Double antibody immunohistochemical stains were performed in contiguous fixed sections from three control circle of Willis arteries, five berry aneurysms, four giant aneurysms, and one mycotic aneurysm (three unruptured and seven ruptured lesions). RESULTS: The aneurysmal wall exhibited diffuse disorganized expression of matrix proteins as compared to their organization in control vessels. There was strong patchy expression of vascular endothelial growth factor within the walls of all aneurysms, including marked staining of capillaries and small vessels within the thickened walls of giant lesions. The expression of basic fibroblast growth factor was more diffuse and occurred around the fibrocytes and myocytes within the disrupted media of 9 of 10 aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the gross architectural molecular disruption in the walls of intracranial aneurysms and illustrate an apparent biological response involving angiogenesis factors. Further research should elucidate the time course and possible causal relationships of these changes to aneurysm growth and rupture with the aim of possible therapeutic manipulation.
Endovascular Treatment of an Aneurysm of a Persistent Primitive Hypoglossal Artery With Complete Resolution of Brainstem Compressive Symptoms: Case Report
AbstractBACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Aneurysms of the posterior circulation may manifest with neurological deficits related to mass effect on the brainstem. We present an unusual case of an aneurysm resulting in selective lower-extremity weakness and gait instability. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old man presents with progressively worsening gait instability over the course of several months. A magnetic resonance image and computed tomographic angiogram demonstrate a persistent hypoglossal artery associated with an aneurysm invaginating into the pontomedullary junction. The patient manifested only lower-extremity symptoms. An endovascular approach through the right internal carotid artery and persistent primitive hypoglossal artery was assayed, coiling off the aneurysm with complete angiographic occlusion. One month after the procedure, the patient reported marked improvement in symptoms with residual difficulty walking. At the 1-year postprocedure interval, he reported nearly complete resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Endovascular therapy of an aneurysm invaginating into the brainstem is safe and efficacious.
Neurosurgery Clinics of North America · 1998 · 13 citations · open access
Management of Cerebral Aneurysms: How Can Current Management Be Improved?
AbstractIn the present article, we have reviewed potential avenues for improvement in the care of and present management of patients with cerebral aneurysms. Opportunities exist in areas of prevention, systems approach and organization of centers, physician and patient education, screening, and advances in surgical and endovascular therapy. All such advances, however, depend on rigorous academic evaluation. This issue represents a review of the current management of cerebral aneurysms, hopefully providing a basis for future improvements in the treatment of these lesions.
Theoretical and Natural Science · 2023 · 0 citations
Clinical Management of Cerebral Aneurysms
AbstractA number of people die every year because of aneurysms. Wide range of researches have been conducted into aneurysms, particularly for brain aneurysms. Due to the serious consequences of intracranial haemorrhage, there have been many new treatments including medication and surgical approaches developed in recent years, but at the same time there is still much room for technological improvement. As research has progressed, researchers have discovered that aneurysms are inextricably linked to inflammation and have proposed a number of medications to treat this condition. However, medication can only control aneurysms to a limited extent and is usually used as an adjunct to surgical treatment. This article summarizes the treatment of different aneurysms, as well as the prospect of surgical intervention and its future perspectives.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works using Disease Ontology synonyms, 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.
