DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for eosinophilic esophagitis — screening already-approved drugs against its 26-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleEosinophilic esophagitis maps to a 26-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 eosinophilic esophagitis 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
nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) — NAMPT 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 ncadrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8DSC · 1.321 Å · ligand NICOTINAMIDE (NCA). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Eosinophilic esophagitis is an antigen-driven chronic oesophageal inflammation defined histologically by at least 5 eosinophils per high power field in the distal oesophageal epithelium in one 2000 series of 30 children, and by over 20 eosinophils per high power field despite aggressive acid blockade in a 2006 review. Presenting symptoms include vomiting, pain, dysphagia, recurrent food impactions, and feeding dysfunction. Allergy, particularly food allergy, is a common associated finding, and many patients have concomitant asthma or other chronic respiratory disease. Endoscopic findings include a subtle granularity with furrows or rings. The condition is distinct from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, though symptoms were historically confused with it.
Treatment options are diet, drugs, and endoscopic dilation. Elimination diets omitting 2, 4, or 6 food groups produce histological remission in 43%, 60%, and 79% of patients respectively, according to a 2025 review. An entirely amino acid-based diet leads to histological remission in over 90% of patients but can only be used for a limited time. Topical corticosteroids achieve histological remission in 60–87% of cases, proton-pump inhibitors in 30–50%, and dupilumab (an anti-IL-4Rα/IL-13Rα1 antibody) in 60–86%. A 2011 update noted that blinded, placebo-controlled studies of IL-5 and oral viscous budesonide had advanced the field, and that large studies examining the safety of dilation were available.
The prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis now stands at 16.1 per 100,000 persons, with an incidence of 1.7 per 100,000 persons per year. Diagnosis is often delayed. The disease markedly impairs quality of life and requires long-term remission maintenance therapy. What remains missing are non-invasive markers of disease activity, clear data on the long-term course of the disease, and optimal strategies for remission maintenance therapy that balance efficacy with the restrictions treatments impose on everyday life.
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 · 2000 · 428 citations
The spectrum of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis beyond infancy: a clinical series of 30 children
AbstractOBJECTIVES: Eosinophilic esophagitis, previously confused with esophageal inflammation due to gastroesophageal reflux, has recently begun to be distinguished from it. We undertook this analysis of our large series of children with the condition to clarify its spectrum: its presenting symptoms; its relation to allergy, respiratory disease, and reflux; its endoscopic and histological findings; and its diagnosis and therapy. METHODS: We analyzed the details of our clinical series of 30 children with eosinophilic esophagitis, defining it as > or =5 eosinophils per high power field in the distal esophageal epithelium. Retrospective chart review was supplemented by prospective, blinded, duplicate quantitative evaluation of histology specimens, and by telephone contact with some families to clarify subsequent course. Presentation and analysis of the series as a whole is preceded by a case illustrating a typical presentation with dysphagia and recurrent esophageal food impactions. RESULTS: Presenting symptoms encompass vomiting, pain, and dysphagia (some with impactions or strictures). Allergy, particularly food allergy, is an associated finding in most patients, and many have concomitant asthma or other chronic respiratory disease. A subtle granularity with furrows or rings is newly identified as the endoscopic herald of histological eosinophilic esophagitis. Histological characteristics include peripapillary or juxtaluminal eosinophil clustering in certain cases. Association with eosinophilic gastroenteritis occurs, but is not common. Differentiation from gastroesophageal reflux disease is approached by analyzing eosinophil density and response to therapeutic trials. Therapy encompasses dietary elimination and anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the spectrum of eosinophilic esophagitis should promote optimal diagnosis and treatment of this elusive entity, both in children and in adults.
Annual Review of Pathology Mechanisms of Disease · 2016 · 96 citations · open access
Mechanisms of Disease of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
AbstractEosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a recently recognized inflammatory disease of the esophagus with clinical symptoms derived from esophageal dysfunction. The etiology of EoE is now being elucidated, and food hypersensitivity is emerging as the central cornerstone of disease pathogenesis. Herein, we present a thorough picture of the current clinical, pathologic, and molecular understanding of the disease with a focus on disease mechanisms.
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology · 2006 · 43 citations
Eosinophilic esophagitis: treatment in 2005
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Eosinophilic esophagitis is an isolated, eosinophilic inflammation of the esophagus. The symptoms are often confused for those of gastroesophageal reflux. Over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the literature surrounding eosinophilic esophagitis as more than two-thirds of the articles written on the subject have been published within the past 3 years. Because the incidence is rising and the condition is easily diagnosed by endoscopy with biopsy, it is important for physicians to understand the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment options available for patients. RECENT FINDINGS: The etiology of eosinophilic esophagitis in children is reported to be associated with an allergic response to food antigens. Because allergy tests are often unable to determine the causative foods, complete elimination of all foods is often required. The diagnosis requires a biopsy of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The condition is diagnosed if the patient's esophageal biopsy depicts over 20 eosinophils per high-powered field despite the use of aggressive acid blockade, biopsies of the stomach antrum and duodenum are normal, and the tissue inflammation resolves when dietary antigens are removed from the diet. While the most commonly involved foods causing eosinophilic esophagitis include milk, eggs, nuts, beef, wheat, fish, shellfish, corn and soy, almost all foods have been implicated. Alternative treatments include esophageal dilatation and medical therapy. SUMMARY: This article reviews the past year's literature, concentrating on the pathophysiology, and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis in both children and adults.
LymphoSign Journal · 2017 · 28 citations · open access
Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A review
AbstractEosinophilic esophagitis is an antigen-mediated chronic disease that has been increasing in prevalence for the last few decades. A plethora of research has been done recently studying the pathophysiology and potential treatments for the disease. This review paper highlights the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis including new diagnostic and treatment modalities for the disorder.
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology · 2011 · 26 citations
Eosinophilic esophagitis: update on clinicopathological manifestations and pathophysiology
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Over the course of the last year, a number of studies have brought new insights into the clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis, some of which will be summarized here. RECENT FINDINGS: This swell of research and clinical need resulted in revision of the 2007 Consensus Recommendations. In addition, new insights into key clinicopathological features including symptoms such as feeding dysfunction and histological quantification of eosinophil extracellular granules are presented. The advancement of the field is strongly supported by blinded and placebo-controlled studies of IL-5 and oral viscous budesonide as well as new large studies examining the safety of dilation. SUMMARY: Overall, these studies set the stage for new methodologies to understand the pathophysiology of eosinophilic esophagitis and development of novel therapies.
Deutsches Ärzteblatt international · 2025 · 2 citations · open access
Eosinophilic esophagitis: Prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment in childhood and adulthood
AbstractBACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic, Th2 immune-mediated disease of the esophagus characterized by eso - phageal dysfunction and predominant eosinophilic inflammation. Its prevalence and incidence have risen in recent years and now stand at 16.1 per 100 000 persons and 1.7 per 100 000 persons per year. METHODS: This review is based on selected publications retrieved by a search in PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar for clinical trials, reviews, and guidelines that were published between 2011 and 2024 in either English or German (search term, "eosinophilic esophagitis"). RESULTS: Eosinophilic esophagitis markedly impairs patients' quality of life; its diagnosis is often delayed. It can be treated with an appropriately altered diet, pharmacotherapy, and/or endoscopic intervention ("diet, drugs, dilatation"). Elimination diets with the omission of 2, 4, or 6 food groups lead to histological remission in 43%, 60%, and 79% of patients, respectively. An entirely amino acid-based diet leads to histological remission in over 90% of patients, but can only be performed for a limited time. Topical corticosteroids lead to histological remission in 60-87% of cases, proton-pump inhibitors in 30-50%, and dupilumab (anti-IL- 4Rα/IL-13Rα1) in 60-86%. These treatments differ widely in their side-effect profiles and in the restrictions they impose in everyday life, and their use must be considered individually for each patient. Because eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic disease, remission maintenance therapy is needed over the long term. CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic esophagitis was first described three decades ago. Effective treatments are available, but questions remain concerning the longterm course of the disease, remission maintenance therapy, and non-invasive markers of disease activity, among others. Delays in diagnosis should be avoided. The appropriate treatment and long-term care of the affected patients are needed to assure them an optimal quality of life.
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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