DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for corneal edema — screening already-approved drugs against its 24-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleCorneal edema maps to a 24-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 corneal edema 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
EPH receptor B1 (EPHB1) — EPHB1 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 ctcdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6UMW · 1.982 Å · ligand 7-CHLOROTETRACYCLINE (CTC). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a 2007 study of nine eyes with acute corneal hydrops from keratoconus, intracameral injection of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas led to resolution of corneal edema at four weeks, compared with twelve weeks in nine eyes managed conservatively. Central corneal thickness in the SF6 group was 0.99 mm at three weeks and 0.65 mm at twelve weeks; in the conservative group it remained above 1.0 mm at three weeks and was 0.991 mm at twelve weeks (P = 0.001). Mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity at twelve weeks was 0.39 in the SF6 group and 0.24 in the conservative group (P = 0.016). Some eyes required up to three injections. The authors concluded the intervention was safe and effective for early reduction of edema in this specific setting.
A 2011 rabbit study tested intraocular toxicity of topical azithromycin 1.0% with and without a bioadhesive delivery system. Injections of 50 μL, 25 μL, and 10 μL were given. Intraocular pressure, pachymetry, and signs of inflammation were consistently higher in eyes receiving the formulation with the bioadhesive system, especially at the 50 μL dose (P < 0.001 for IOP and pachymetry). Histopathology confirmed the findings. The authors concluded that if the bioadhesive delivery system gains access to the anterior chamber, it may cause substantial corneal edema and inflammation, even at low doses or after topical administration.
A 2021 case report described two patients with persistent symptomatic peripheral corneal edema treated with diamond burr-assisted superficial keratectomy. Corneal edema reduced significantly after the procedure, no adverse events were observed, and the patients became asymptomatic. Visual acuity remained unchanged, and no epithelial cysts were identified clinically. The authors suggested the technique could be an effective alternative for peripheral, symptomatic edema.
What is still missing: prospective controlled trials comparing burr-assisted keratectomy to standard care, any human data on azithromycin for corneal edema, and larger randomised studies of SF6 injection that include longer follow-up and standardised patient selection. No drug has been repurposed for corneal edema in these abstracts.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Cornea · 2007 · 70 citations
Management of Acute Corneal Hydrops Secondary to Keratoconus With Intracameral Injection of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)
AbstractPURPOSE: To report the use of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas in the management of corneal edema caused by acute corneal hydrops secondary to keratoconus. METHODS: Nine eyes with acute hydrops secondary to keratoconus managed by SF6 gas injected into the anterior chamber (group 1) were compared to another 9 eyes that were managed conservatively with conventional medical therapy (group 2). RESULTS: Of 9 eyes in group 1, 3 had 1 injection, 4 had 2 injections, and the remaining 2 had 3 injections into the anterior chamber. All the eyes in group 1 showed an early resolution of corneal edema at 4 weeks. The same was achieved in group 2 at 12 weeks. The central corneal thickness (CCT) in group 1 and group 2 was >1.0 mm at presentation. The CCT at 3 and 12 weeks in group 1 was 0.99 and 0.65 mm, respectively, whereas CCT in group 2 at 3 weeks was >1.0 mm and at 12 weeks was 0.991 mm (P = 0.001). The mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) at 12 weeks in group 1 and group 2 was 0.39 and 0.24, respectively (P = 0.016). The results were significant in favor of group 1 over group 2 both in CCT and BSCVA. CONCLUSION: Early intervention with intracameral SF6 injection is a safe and effective therapy for early reduction of corneal edema in eyes with keratoconus and acute hydrops.
Journal of Ophthalmic and Vision Research · 2016 · 22 citations · open access
Outcomes of descemetopexy with isoexpansile perfluoropropane after cataract surgery
AbstractPURPOSE: To report the indications, anatomical outcomes, functional outcomes and limitations of descemetopexy with intracameral injection of isoexpansile perfluoropropane (14% C3F8) in eyes with Descemet's membrane (DM) detachment after cataract surgery. METHODS: This retrospective non-comparative interventional case series included 67 eyes of 67 patients who underwent descemetopexy at a tertiary eye hospital. The procedure consisted of descemet's membrane reattachment by injecting isoexpansile perfluoropropane (14% C3F8)intracamerally. Outcome measures were reattachment of DM, improvement in visual acuity, resolution of corneal edema, causes for failure of DM reattachment and complications. RESULTS: Sixty-seven eyes of 74 patients were analyzed. Phacoemulsification (56.71%) had the highest DM detachment as compared to manual SICS in 19 (28.36%) and ECCE in 10 (14.93%) eyes. Descemetopexy with 14% C3F8 resulted in anatomical reattachment of DM in 71.64% and functional improvement in visual acuity in 74.63% of treated eyes. The location and the extent of DM detachment did not influence DM reattachment. Complete reattachment of DM occurred in all 26 eyes (100%) with planar type detachments, whereas with non-planar type detachments only 22 eyes (53.7%) achieved complete reattachment. CONCLUSION: Descemetopexy with isoexpansile perfluoropropane offers good surgical outcomes regarding visual acuity and resolution of corneal edema.
Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery · 2011 · 5 citations
Toxicity comparison of intraocular azithromycin with and without a bioadhesive delivery system in rabbit eyes
AbstractPURPOSE: To determine whether the addition of a bioadhesive drug-delivery system to topical azithromycin induces intraocular inflammation and damage when introduced intraocularly by different approaches and in varying doses. SETTING: John A. Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: Commercial topical azithromycin 1.0% was duplicated, including the benzalkonium chloride, but without inclusion of the Durasite bioadhesive drug-delivery system. Injections of 50 μL, 25 μL, and 10 μL of the antibiotic solutions were administered in a masked fashion to 2 rabbits; 1 eye (study eye) in each rabbit was randomized to receive azithromycin with the delivery system and the fellow eye (control eye) to receive azithromycin without the delivery system. Two rabbits had topical drops of each solution placed after a 2.8 mm incision was created. Masked slitlamp examinations, pachymetry, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were determined 1 day and 2 days postoperatively. The animals were humanely killed, and the endothelial density and histopathology were examined. RESULTS: The IOP (P<.001), pachymetry (P<.001), and signs of inflammation (P=.38 to .003) were consistently higher in the study eye, especially at the 50 μL dose, than in the control eye. This was confirmed by histopathology. CONCLUSION: If the drug-delivery system gains access to the anterior chamber, it may cause substantial corneal edema and inflammation, even at low doses and after topical administration.
Ophthalmology and Therapy · 2021 · 1 citations · open access
Burr-Assisted Peripheral Superficial Keratectomy for the Treatment of Persistent Symptomatic Peripheral Corneal Edema
AbstractPURPOSE: To describe a simple technique of diamond burr-assisted superficial keratectomy for the treatment of peripheral corneal edema. CASES PRESENTATION: Two patients with persistent symptomatic peripheral corneal edema underwent superficial keratectomy with the use of a diamond ophthalmic burr. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated clinically as well as with anterior segment optical coherence tomography. During the postoperative follow-up period, no adverse events were observed and corneal edema reduced significantly. The patients were asymptomatic, no epithelial cysts could be identified clinically, and visual acuity remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Peripheral superficial keratectomy could be an effective alternative for the treatment of peripheral, symptomatic corneal edema.
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.
