DeCure's autonomous Immuno AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for collagenous colitis — screening already-approved drugs against its 5-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleCollagenous colitis maps to a 5-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
approvedAminosalicylic AcidApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside collagenous colitis in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
SUDV VP40 — Aminosalicylic Acid has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 9RDP, 1.55 Å). This is the drug's own deposited structure, not a prediction, and confirms it is a structurally characterised molecule rather than an untested guess.
Loading structure…
helix sheet oo3drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 9RDP · 1.55 Å · ligand Aminosalicylic Acid (OO3). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a 2001 retrospective analysis of 26 patients with collagenous colitis, 22 responded to some form of therapy and one had spontaneous remission. Six of those responders eventually remained in complete remission with no therapy. Twelve patients were maintained on 5-aminosalicylic acid and/or antidiarrheals to control symptoms. Six required prednisone throughout follow-up to remain in complete or partial remission. Two patients failed all therapy. The authors recommended initial therapy with antidiarrheals, followed by a trial of a 5-aminosalicylic acid agent, and then a trial of 5-aminosalicylic acid combined with prednisone for refractory patients.
A 2003 study of nine patients with collagenous colitis accompanied by colonic ulcers found that seven (77.8%) had a history of NSAID ingestion, compared with four of 18 collagenous colitis controls without ulceration (20.2%). The diarrhea resolved after cessation of NSAID use in four of these patients, partially resolved in one, and persisted in one. Among the two patients who did not use NSAIDs, one was taking lisinopril and the diarrhea resolved after stopping the drug; the ulceration in the other was thought to be ischemic. The authors concluded that collagenous colitis with ulceration has a strong association with NSAID ingestion.
A 2013 open case series tested methotrexate in nine patients with budesonide-refractory or intolerant collagenous colitis. Methotrexate was given 15 mg subcutaneously weekly for six weeks, increased to 25 mg for a further six weeks if symptoms were unresponsive. Five patients completed the protocol; four discontinued after three to six weeks because of adverse events. No patient achieved clinical remission at week 12. Mean stool frequency at baseline was 6.0 stools per day (5.4 watery), and after 12 weeks treatment it was 6.4 stools per day (5.7 watery). No patient reported improvement in health-related quality of life. The authors concluded that short-term methotrexate had no clinical effect in this population.
What is still missing is a prospective, randomised trial for any of these interventions in collagenous colitis. The 2001 study was retrospective and small. The 2013 methotrexate series was open-label, unblinded, and had no control group. No trial has yet stratified patients by NSAID use, concomitant medications, or histologic subtype (ulcerative versus non-ulcerative). Funding for a properly powered, placebo-controlled study of any candidate therapy remains absent.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology · 2003 · 112 citations
Colonic ulcers accompanying collagenous colitis: implication of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
AbstractOBJECTIVES: A small minority of otherwise typical collagenous colitis (CC) patients also have mucosal ulceration (CC-U). We studied the association of CC-U cases with ingestion of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a possible explanation for the mucosal ulceration. METHODS: Clinical information and histological features were reviewed in nine cases of biopsy-diagnosed CC-U. Biopsies from 18 unselected cases of CC without ulceration were reviewed for comparison. RESULTS: Of nine patients with CC-U, seven (77.8%) had a history of NSAID ingestion, compared with four of 18 CC controls (20.2%) (p = 0.006). The diarrhea resolved after cessation of NSAID use in four CC-U patients, partially resolved in one patient, and persisted in one patient. The outcome was not available in one patient. Of the two CC-U patients who did not use NSAIDs, one patient was taking lisinopril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor), and the diarrhea resolved after stopping the drug; the ulceration in the second patient was thought to be ischemic in origin. CONCLUSIONS: Collagenous colitis with ulceration has a strong association with NSAID ingestion. Evaluation of medications and cessation of NSAIDs should be considered as a therapeutic option in cases of collagenous colitis with colonic ulceration.
Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology · 2013 · 46 citations · open access
Lack of effect of methotrexate in budesonide-refractory collagenous colitis
AbstractBACKGROUND: In most cases, collagenous colitis can be treated effectively with budesonide. However, some patients develop side effects or have chronic symptoms refractory to budesonide. This paper reports an open case series of patients intolerant or refractory to budesonide who were treated with methotrexate (MTX). METHODS AND PATIENTS: Nine patients (seven women) with a median (range) age of 62 (44-77) years were studied. Bowel movements were registered during 1 week prior to baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks' treatment, enabling calculation of the mean bowel movements/day. All patients underwent colonoscopy with biopsies before inclusion to confirm diagnosis. Open treatment with MTX was given 15 mg subcutaneously weekly for 6 weeks and was increased to 25 mg for a further 6 weeks if symptoms were unresponsive to the first 6 weeks' treatment. The endpoint was clinical remission, which was defined as a mean <3 stools/day and mean <1 watery stool/day/week at Week 12. The Short Health Scale was used at baseline and Week 12 to assess health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Five patients fulfilled the treatment according to the protocol and four patients discontinued the study after 3-6 weeks because of adverse events. No patient achieved clinical remission at Week 12. The mean stool frequency/day at baseline was 6.0 stools/day, thereof 5.4 watery stools/day and after 12 weeks treatment 6.4 stools/day, thereof 5.7 watery/day. No patient appreciated an improvement of health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with MTX had no clinical effect in collagenous colitis patients intolerant or refractory to budesonide. Alternative therapies should be investigated in these patients.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology · 2001 · 16 citations
Treatment responses in collagenous colitis
AbstractOBJECTIVE: In the nearly 20 yr since collagenous colitis was first recognized, the results of therapies have not been systematically described in substantial numbers of patients. We have therefore conducted a retrospective analysis of 26 patients treated in this institution during the years 1991-1994. METHODS: Twenty-nine cases of collagenous colitis were obtained by review of biopsy specimens collected between 1991 and 1994 at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Each chart was reviewed for patient demographics, symptoms, coexisting conditions, specific therapies, and therapeutic outcomes. Additional data were obtained from telephone calls to patients when deemed necessary. Three patients were exeluded from the study because of lack of follow-up. Therapeutic outcomes were defined as follows: Complete Remission (CR): normalization of bowel function; Partial Remission (PR): 50% reduction in frequency of bowel movements; Failure: <50% reduction in frequency of bowel movements; or Relapse: return of symptoms after cessation of treatment. Median follow-up was 58 wk from time of diagnosis, with a range of 22-376 wk. RESULTS: The 26 patients (25 women, one man) had a mean age of 62 yr (range, 22-85 yr) at diagnosis. Of 26 patients, 22 responded to some form of therapy and one had spontaneous remission. Six of the responders ultimately remained in CR with no therapy. Twelve are maintained on 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and or antidiarrheals to control symptoms. An additional six required prednisone throughout the follow-up period to remain in CR or PR. Two patients failed all therapy. CONCLUSION: Collagenous colitis is a treatable condition in most patients. We recommend initial therapy with antidiarrheals, followed by a trial of 5-ASA agent. A trial of 5-ASA in combination with prednisone should be attempted in patients refractory to 5-ASA alone, with subsequent attempts in the responders to taper prednisone and maintain remission with no therapy, if possible, or with 5-ASA and/or antidiarrheal agents if necessary.
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.
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