DeCure for Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 116
DeCure's autonomous Neuro AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 116 — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleDevelopmental and epileptic encephalopathy 116 maps to a 1-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 developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 116 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
glutamate-ammonia ligase (GLUL) — GLUL 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 adpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 9NM5 · 1.85 Å · ligand ADENOSINE-5'-DIPHOSPHATE (ADP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 116 is one of a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by drug-resistant seizures and neurodevelopmental delay, with onset typically in infancy or early childhood and an overall poor prognosis. Next-generation sequencing has revolutionised the identification of single-gene causes but has had only a modest impact on patient-specific treatment decisions. Most antiseizure drugs are ineffective in these disorders, and treatments that are effective often entail significant risk and cost. Most patients experience very poor outcomes, although a significant minority respond to or are even cured by specific therapies.
In children with epileptic encephalopathy who have an identifiable brain lesion on neurological imaging, epilepsy surgery may be considered as a treatment option despite the lack of a localised epileptic pattern on EEG. The case of one child with epilepsy showed a dramatic evolution from treatment-responsive focal epilepsy at 18 months to treatment-resistant focal epilepsy with an epileptic encephalopathy by age 3, illustrating poorly understood age-related changes in seizure susceptibility, seizure types, and drug responsiveness.
The conceptual framework of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies has evolved from initial genetic underpinnings to a clinically driven term encompassing a broader group of aetiologies. It is especially important to recognise treatable or modifiable entities within this group. A summary of currently well-established DEE syndromes is available along with precision therapies that might help in the appropriate evaluation and management of affected children.
What is still missing are large, well-designed clinical trials that can stratify patients by specific genetic aetiologies, funding to move beyond case reports and small series, and a clearer understanding of the age-related mechanisms that govern drug responsiveness and seizure evolution.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology · 2018 · 15 citations
Epileptic Encephalopathies
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article reviews the manifestations and treatment of the epileptic encephalopathies, which are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by both seizures and neurocognitive impairment. RECENT FINDINGS: Next-generation (exome- and genome-based) sequencing technologies are revolutionizing the identification of single-gene causes of epileptic encephalopathy but have only had a modest impact on patient-specific treatment decisions. The treatment of most forms of epileptic encephalopathy remains a particularly challenging endeavor, with therapeutic decisions chiefly driven by the electroclinical syndrome classification. Most antiseizure drugs are ineffective in the treatment of these disorders, and treatments that are effective often entail significant risk and cost. SUMMARY: The epileptic encephalopathies continue to pose a major challenge in diagnosis and treatment, with most patients experiencing very poor outcomes, although a significant minority of patients respond to, or are even cured by, specific therapies.
Epilepsy Research and Treatment · 2013 · 6 citations · open access
The Role of Epilepsy Surgery in the Treatment of Childhood Epileptic Encephalopathy
AbstractChildren with epileptic encephalopathy often have global impairment of brain function and frequent intractable seizures, which contribute further to their developmental disability. Many of these children have identifiable brain lesion on neurological imaging. In such cases, epilepsy surgery may be considered as a treatment option despite the lack of localized epileptic pattern on electroencephalogram (EEG). In this paper, we summarize the clinical features of epileptic encephalopathy syndromes and review the reported literature on the surgical approach to some of these disorders.
Child Neurology Open · 2022 · 5 citations · open access
Cefepime-Induced Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus in a Pediatric Patient with Normal Renal Function
AbstractIntroduction: Cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, is known to risk the induction of neurotoxic impairment from confusion to nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). Neurotoxic effects of cefepime are most commonly evident in the setting of impaired renal function in adults; however, are rarely present in those with normal renal excretion function or in the pediatric population. Case: We present a case of a 16-year-old female with a complicated past medical history but no accounts of impaired renal function yet, after starting cefepime, presented with encephalopathy, intermittent stimulus-induced posturing, and was found to have NCSE. Discontinuation of cefepime and administration of additional antiepileptics provided significant improvement in EEG and allowed the patient to return to baseline within two days. Conclusion: Cefepime-induced nonconvulsive status epilepticus should be considered in any patient with or without impaired renal function that shows acute changes in mental status, and/or reduced consciousness, after initiating cefepime treatment.
Journal of Child Neurology · 2025 · 2 citations · open access
Short-term EEG Outcomes in Children With Developmental and/or Epileptic Encephalopathy With Spike and Wave Activation in Sleep (DEE-SWAS) Treated With High-Dose Diazepam
AbstractObjectives: This retrospective study enrolled consecutive children aged 2-18 years with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike and wave during sleep (D)EE-SWAS who received oral high-dose diazepam therapy. Their clinical, electroencephalographic (EEG), and radiologic data were reviewed and summarized. Results: Thirty-five eligible patients were identified. The mean age at EEG diagnosis of (D)EE-SWAS was 6 years. Focal seizures (57.1%) were most commonly noted at the time of diagnosis. A definite language regression was reported in 10 patients (28.6%). The etiologies included structural (34.3%), genetic (22.9%), and unknown (42.9%). The mean spike-wave index at the time of high-dose diazepam initiation was 88.9% (standard deviation 11%). Sixteen patients (45.7%) showed ≥50% reduction in spike-wave index following the test doses of high-dose diazepam. Most patients tolerated the therapy well. Nonstructural etiology was associated with a good EEG response (β = 2.61, P = .008). The mean duration of follow-up after EEG diagnosis was 6.1 years. All patients were seizure free at last follow-up except one. Persisting SWAS (spike-wave index > 50%) at last follow-up was noted in 12 patients (34.3%). Conclusions: This single-center small retrospective study showed that nearly half of the patients showed ≥50% reduction in spike-wave index following the test doses of high-dose diazepam in patients with (D)EE-SWAS.
International Journal of Epilepsy · 2025 · 1 citations · open access
Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies: Progress in Understanding and Clinical Implications
AbstractAbstract Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are a group of complex pediatric epilepsies associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes and multiaxial neurological morbidities. The understanding of DEE has evolved from its initial genetic underpinnings, to a clinically driven term encompassing a broader group of etiologies. Although individually rare, the DEEs constitute a sizeable group of pediatric epilepsies. It is especially important to recognize treatable or modifiable entities in this group. This review attempts to highlight the progress in understanding, along with the evolution of the conceptual framework of DEEs. A summary of the currently well-established DEE syndromes is provided along with available precision therapies, which might help the treating physician in the appropriate evaluation and management of the affected children.
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · 2024 · 0 citations
Research progress on developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
AbstractDevelopmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) is a group of heterogeneous disorders characterized by drug-resistant seizures and neurodevelopmental delay, which can hinder brain development and lead to severe cognitive, behavioral, and motor impairments. DEE is mainly driven by genetic factors, typically with an onset in infancy or early childhood and generally with an overall poor prognosis. This article provides a review of the definition, epilepsy syndromes, genetic etiology, and precision treatment of DEE.
A Child with Epilepsy: Initial Presentation and Subsequent Course
AbstractPresented is the case of a child with epilepsy with dramatic evolution between the ages of 18 months and 3 years. Initially, the case is one of treatment-responsive focal epilepsy, but then evolves to treatment-resistant focal epilepsy with an epileptic encephalopathy. The case demonstrates the poorly understood entities of age-related changes in seizure suspectibility, seizure types, and drug responsiveness.
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.
