DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for cannabis dependence — screening already-approved drugs against its 38-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleCannabis dependence maps to a 38-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 cannabis dependence 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
VRK serine/threonine kinase 2 (VRK2) — VRK2 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 sindrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 2V62 · 1.7 Å · ligand SUCCINIC ACID (SIN). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A genome-wide association study of 708 DSM-IV cannabis-dependent cases and 2,346 cannabis-exposed non-dependent controls found no single nucleotide polymorphism that met genome-wide significance. The lowest p-values, at 10⁻⁷, were for polymorphisms on chromosome 17 in the ANKFN1 gene. The authors state replication is required. Clinical and epidemiological studies indicate cannabis dependence is a relatively common phenomenon associated with significant psychosocial impairment. A valid withdrawal syndrome is common among heavy marijuana users. Clinical trials evaluating treatments for cannabis dependence suggest the disorder is responsive to intervention, yet the majority of patients have difficulty achieving and maintaining abstinence. Treatment seeking for marijuana dependence increased almost twofold over the ten years prior to 2002.
A 2012 pilot, 12-week, randomised, placebo-controlled trial tested gabapentin for cannabis dependence. The abstract notes that several medications with different mechanisms of action had previously been found ineffective against cannabis dependence. No efficacy data, response rates, or survival figures are provided in the abstract for gabapentin.
What is still missing are adequately powered, replicated genome-wide association studies that meet genome-wide significance, and large-scale, definitive randomised controlled trials for any pharmacological intervention, including gabapentin, with clearly reported outcomes such as abstinence rates and withdrawal severity. Patient stratification by genetic or clinical subtypes remains unexplored.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Addiction Biology · 2010 · 103 citations · open access
A genome-wide association study of DSM-IV cannabis dependence
AbstractDespite twin studies showing that 50-70% of variation in DSM-IV cannabis dependence is attributable to heritable influences, little is known of specific genotypes that influence vulnerability to cannabis dependence. We conducted a genome-wide association study of DSM-IV cannabis dependence. Association analyses of 708 DSM-IV cannabis-dependent cases with 2346 cannabis-exposed non-dependent controls was conducted using logistic regression in PLINK. None of the 948 142 single nucleotide polymorphisms met genome-wide significance (P at E-8). The lowest P values were obtained for polymorphisms on chromosome 17 (rs1019238 and rs1431318, P values at E-7) in the ANKFN1 gene. While replication is required, this study represents an important first step toward clarifying the biological underpinnings of cannabis dependence.
The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology · 2002 · 76 citations
Development and Consequences of Cannabis Dependence
AbstractThe past 10 to 15 years of clinical and basic research have produced strong evidence demonstrating that cannabis can and does produce dependence. Clinical and epidemiological studies indicate that cannabis dependence is a relatively common phenomenon associated with significant psychosocial impairment. Basic research has identified a neurobiological system specific to the actions of cannabinoids. Human and nonhuman studies have demonstrated a valid withdrawal syndrome that is relatively common among heavy marijuana users. Last, clinical trials evaluating treatments for cannabis dependence suggest that this disorder, like other substance dependence disorders, is responsive to intervention, yet the majority of patients have difficulty achieving and maintaining abstinence. Of concern, treatment seeking for marijuana dependence has increased almost twofold over the past 10 years. This report briefly reviews selected research literature relevant to our current understanding of cannabis dependence, its associated consequences, and treatment efficacy.
Deutsches Ärzteblatt international · 2016 · 29 citations · open access
Evidence-based Treatment Options in Cannabis Dependency
AbstractBACKGROUND: Now that the consumption of natural and synthetic cannabinoids is becoming more widespread, the specific treatment of cannabis-related disturbances is an increasingly important matter. There are many therapeutic options, and it is not always clear which ones are evidence-based and appropriate for use in a given clinical situation. METHODS: This review is based on reports of pertinent randomized and controlled trials (RCTs) that were retrieved by a selective search in the PubMed and Cochrane databases. RESULTS: Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) combined with other techniques has been found to have a moderate to large effect (Cohen's d = 0.53-0.9) on the amount of cannabis consumed as well as on the level of psychosocial functioning or the dependence syndrome. Systemic multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) has been found beneficial for younger adolescents who consume large amounts of cannabis and have psychiatric comorbidities. Short-term interventions with motivational talk therapy have been found effective for patients with or without an initial desire to achieve cannabis abstinence. All of these psychotherapeutic interventions are effective at evidence level Ia. The administration of gabapentin had a weak effect (d = 0.26) on the quantity consumed and on abstinence (evidence level Ib). Withdrawal symptoms can be alleviated with cannabinoid-receptor antagonists (d = 0.223 and 0.481) (evidence level Ib). On the other hand, there is evidence that serotonergic antidepressants can worsen withdrawal manifestations and increase the likelihood of relapse. CONCLUSION: Psychotherapeutic techniques remain the foundation of treatment for cannabis dependence. No drug has yet been approved for the treatment of cannabis dependence because of the lack of scientific evidence. The rates of abstinence that are currently achieved, even with psychotherapy, are still only moderate. Further clinical studies are needed for the evaluation of combinations of various treatments that can meet the needs of individual patients.
AbstractCannabis dependence is responsible for a quarter of all inpatient substance use admissions globally and is associated with prominent cognitive, work, and social dysfunctions. Several medications with different mechanisms of action have been found ineffective against cannabis dependence. Researchers conducted a pilot, 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test the efficacy of …
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.
