DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria — 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 moduleDyschromatosis universalis hereditaria 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 dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria 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
ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 6 (LAN blood group) (ABCB6) — ABCB6 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 y01drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 9DBQ · 2.9 Å · ligand CHOLESTEROL HEMISUCCINATE (Y01). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Two familial cases of dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria were reported in 1952, with the same dermatosis noted across five generations. Unexposed body parts were as strongly affected as exposed areas, including the palms and soles. The pigmentary disturbance was attributed to genotype with epistases of factors other than photosensitivity, and the relationship with dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria was rejected despite clinical resemblance.
A 2015 report described an Indian patient with DUH who had involvement of palms, soles, flexures, and ocular mucosa, and also signs of neuropathy that turned out to be pure neuritic Hansen’s disease. A 2023 case report from southern India described a seven-year-old male with DUH involving the whole body surface; his treatment included cortisol hormone replacement therapy with long-term hydrocortisone tablets. A 2025 case report described a 65-year-old Indian male with atypical scalp involvement alongside lesions on hands, legs, trunk, and back.
No controlled trials, no quantitative survival or response rates, and no drug other than hydrocortisone were reported in these abstracts. What remains missing is any systematic trial design, patient stratification, or funding for therapeutic studies in this rare genodermatosis.
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 Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine · 1952 · 32 citations · open access
Genetical Studies on Skin Diseases
Abstract1. Two familial cases of dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria are reported. 2. In the same family the occurrence of similar dermatoses is noted in five generations. 3. Unexposed parts of the body is as strongly affected as the exposed area. And even the palm and sole are involved. 4. The pigmentary disturbance is caused by genotype with epistases of some other factors than photosensitivity. 5. Thus the relationship with dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria is rejected in spite of clinical resemblance.
Pigment International · 2015 · 1 citations · open access
Mottled pigmentation with neuropathy, an enigma solved!
AbstractDyschromatosis universalis hereditaria (DUH) is usually an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder characterized by the presence of hypopigmented as well as hyperpigmented macules. We report an Indian patient with DUH having involvement of palms and soles, flexures and ocular mucosa. He also had signs of neuropathy, which on further evaluation turned out to be pure neuritic Hansen's disease.
Journal of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Research · 2023 · 0 citations · open access
Dyschromatosis Universalis Hereditaria: A Rare Case Report in Southern India
AbstractDyschromatosis Universalis Hereditaria (DUH) is a rare genodermatosis characterised by hyper and hypo pigmented macules in reticulate pattern. The clinical manifestations includes occurrence of lesions at the trunk and extremities as the dominants sites. The lesions may spread to the face, hands and feet. Hair, teeth, nails, palms and soles may also be involved. Here, we present a case of 7 year old male patient with DUH with the involvement of whole body surface. The treatment pattern in this case includes cortisol hormone replacement therapy with the use of hydrocortisone tablets for a long period of time.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH · 2025 · 0 citations
A RARE CASE REPORT OF DYSCHROMATOSIS UNIVERSALIS HEREDITARIA
AbstractDyschromatosis universalis hereditaria (DUH) is a rare genetic skin condition that involves a mixture of hyperpigmented and hypopigmented macules with mottled pigmentation. Lesions usually start on the limbs and extend to the trunk over time. Cases in the Indian population are extremely uncommon, with the majority of recorded cases emanating from Japan. This case report describes a 65-year-old Indian male who had atypical involvement of scalp along with other common site like hands, legs trunk and back, with DUH as diagnosis.
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.
