DeCure's autonomous Dermatology AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for cutaneous lupus erythematosus — screening already-approved drugs against its 36-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleCutaneous lupus erythematosus maps to a 36-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
approvedPazopanibApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside cutaneous lupus erythematosus in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
progesterone receptor (PGR) — PGR is one of the genes in this disease's Open Targets module — part of the target space DeCure's repurposing candidates point at. The protein backbone is drawn as a cartoon. The structure has (14beta,17alpha)-17-ethynyl-17-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one bound in it, shown as sticks.
Loading structure…
helix sheet 14beta,17alphadrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 1SQN · 1.451 Å · ligand (14beta,17alpha)-17-ethynyl-17-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one (NDR). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus covers several related autoimmune skin disorders that range from mild erythema to scarring lesions. A complex network of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules drives tissue injury in the skin, but a complete understanding of the different mechanisms in each clinical subset does not exist. The 2010 review states that knowledge of pathogenesis is increasing, yet the diverse pathophysiological pathways across subtypes remain incompletely understood. The 2015 article similarly summarises pathological and immunological diagnostic criteria and classifies pharmacotherapy, but offers no new trial data or quantitative outcomes.
A 2024 case report describes a patient with drug-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) triggered by terbinafine. After the drug was stopped, the eruption did not remit and did not respond to classical treatments such as corticosteroids, antimalarials or immunosuppressive drugs. Treatment with upadacitinib produced rapid and sustained improvement within 48 hours. This is a single case, not a controlled study, and no response rates, survival figures or sample sizes are reported.
The 2012 update on systemic lupus discusses classification and available treatments for cutaneous lupus variants and reviews induction and maintenance therapy for lupus nephritis. It does not provide new efficacy data for any specific drug in cutaneous lupus. Across all four abstracts, no randomised trials, no quantitative response rates, and no survival data are given for any treatment in cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
What is still missing are controlled clinical trials with adequate sample sizes, validated outcome measures for skin disease, and patient stratification by CLE subtype. Funding for such trials and for mechanistic studies that distinguish the subsets remains insufficient.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Lupus · 2010 · 58 citations
Pathogenesis of cutaneous lupus erythematosus: common and different features in distinct subsets
AbstractThe term 'cutaneous lupus erythematosus' (CLE) comprises several related autoimmune skin disorders, defined as 'specific' skin manifestations of lupus erythematosus (LE). The spectrum of clinical presentation of CLE is wide, reaching from mild erythema to disseminated scarring skin lesions. There is increasing knowledge concerning the pathogenesis of LE skin lesions and it has been shown that a complex network of cutaneous cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules orchestrate and promote tissue injury observed in LE skin lesions. However, a complete understanding of the diverse pathophysiological mechanisms in the different CLE subsets does not exist. Here we review the main pathological features described in CLE patients against the background of the clinical diversity of different CLE subtypes.
British Journal of Dermatology · 2004 · 41 citations
Update on the management of cutaneous lupus erythematosus
AbstractThis paper reviews the latest treatments for cutaneous lupus erythematosus. It focuses on evidence-based guidance for the management of cutaneous lupus erythematosus, with identification of the strength of evidence available at this time. In addition, I have briefly reviewed the epidemiological aspects, diagnosis and evaluation of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus. This review reflects data available from the Cochrane Library, Medline, literature searches, and the experience of the author managing patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus for over 25 years.
British Journal of Dermatology · 2014 · 16 citations
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus induced by the new multikinase inhibitor pazopanib
AbstractJournal Article Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus induced by the new multikinase inhibitor pazopanib Get access B. Casado‐Verrier, B. Casado‐Verrier Department of Dermatology Hospital General de Segovia Segovia Spain Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar S. Pérez‐Santos, S. Pérez‐Santos Department of Dermatology Hospital General de Segovia Segovia Spain Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar C. Delgado‐Mucientes, C. Delgado‐Mucientes Department of Dermatology Hospital General de Segovia Segovia Spain Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar M. Beato‐Merino M. Beato‐Merino Department of Pathology Hospital La Paz Paseo de la Castellana 261 Madrid 28034 Spain Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 171, Issue 6, 1 December 2014, Pages 1559–1561, https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.13175 Published: 01 December 2014
Review: Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
AbstractThe mainstays of treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) are topical and intralesional steroids, sunscreen, and the antimalarials. However, the practitioner is often faced with the challenge of cutaneous disease unresponsive to these conventional measures. We present our approach to the management of cutaneous LE and review the literature regarding therapy of refractory disease.
AbstractABSTRACT: Patients with cutaneous lesions of lupus erythematosus (LE) can generally be managed with standard therapies. The patient should have a firmly established diagnosis. Evaluation will allow the treating physician to assign a prognosis. Patients with discoid LE and subacute cutaneous LE are generally photosensitive and therefore sunscreens, protective clothing, and behavioral alteration should be discussed with all patients. Topical corticosteroids are a standard form of therapy, but “newer” agents such as retinoids, calcipotriene, and tacrolimus might be effective. Antimalarial agents are generally effective. Attempts to reduce or stop smoking may aid in the control of cutaneous LE (CLE). The choice of alternative therapy is personal and discussions of the risks and benefits should be carefully documented. Successful therapy for CLE is possible in almost all well-motivated, cooperative patients.
AbstractThis article contains the latest information about the mechanisms of development of lupus erythematosus based on the literature review. The modern classification of specific and non-specific skin lesions in lupus erythematosus is shown.The authors described the clinical pattern of cutaneous forms of lupus erythematosus very detailed. the data about pathological and immunological criteria for the disease diagnostics, modern methods of pharmacotherapy lupus erythematosus was classified.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology · 2024 · 3 citations
A case of terbinafine-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus rapidly resolving with upadacitinib
AbstractDrug-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a lupus-like cutaneous eruption without systemic features caused by insult from a range of chemically diverse culprit drugs. In cases where remission is not achieved with drug discontinuation, treatment options generally involve those used to treat idiopathic SCLE, including topical or systemic corticosteroids, antimalarials or immunosuppressive drugs. We present a patient with drug-induced SCLE secondary to terbinafine with a prolonged course after drug cessation, who did not respond to classical treatments, but demonstrated rapid and sustained improvement within 48 h of upadacitinib treatment.
AbstractIn an update on systemic lupus erythematous, this article provides an overview of the classification and available treatments for variants of cutaneous lupus erythematous. Also discussed are the induction and maintenance therapy for lupus nephritis, as well as other treatments to induce and maintain improvement and prevent further damage for lupus patients.
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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