DeCure's autonomous Neuro AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for febrile seizures, familial, 1 — screening already-approved drugs against its 2-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleFebrile seizures, familial, 1 maps to a 2-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 febrile seizures, familial, 1 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
sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 9 (SCN9A) — SCN9A 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…
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RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 7W9K · 2.2 Å · ligand O-[(R)-{[(2R)-2,3-bis(octadecanoyloxy)propyl]oxy}(hydroxy)phosphoryl]-L-serine (P5S). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Febrile seizures are the most common paroxysmal event in childhood, affecting up to one in ten children, and are a major reason for emergency visits and family distress. Diagnosis is clinical, and seizures are classified as simple or complex. Febrile status epilepticus occurs in about 5% of cases. The condition is described as benign, with zero mortality and typically no neurological sequelae. The 2019 clinical guideline states that a febrile seizure is not epilepsy, and it provides instructions for management of the first seizure, criteria for hospital admission, and treatment for prolonged seizures.
The underlying causes remain incompletely understood. Genetic predisposition is considered a major contributor. Research has pointed to involvement of genetic factors, ion channels, and dysregulation of the immune system and neurotransmitters, but the 2016 review notes that the definition, aetiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and long-term prognosis of febrile seizures are all still under debate. The 2015 overview similarly states that while understanding of aetiology and pathophysiology has improved, much remains to be learned.
No specific drug repurposing data are presented in these abstracts. The reviews do not report any clinical trial results, response rates, or survival outcomes for any drug. The 2019 guideline mentions treatment for prolonged seizures but does not name a specific agent or provide efficacy numbers. The 2016 review gathers "new insights on the treatment and prevention" but gives no concrete data from any study.
What is missing is any controlled trial testing a repurposed drug for febrile seizures, familial or otherwise. There are no data on patient stratification by genetic subtype, no funding for such trials, and no trial design that would allow a drug to be evaluated against placebo or standard care in this specific familial population. The literature remains at the level of reviews and clinical guidelines, not interventional evidence.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Neurology Research International · 2015 · 39 citations · open access
Febrile Seizures and Febrile Seizure Syndromes: An Updated Overview of Old and Current Knowledge
AbstractFebrile seizures are the most common paroxysmal episode during childhood, affecting up to one in 10 children. They are a major cause of emergency facility visits and a source of family distress and anxiety. Their etiology and pathophysiological pathways are being understood better over time; however, there is still more to learn. Genetic predisposition is thought to be a major contributor. Febrile seizures have been historically classified as benign; however, many emerging febrile seizure syndromes behave differently. The way in which human knowledge has evolved over the years in regard to febrile seizures has not been dealt with in depth in the current literature, up to our current knowledge. This review serves as a documentary of how scientists have explored febrile seizures, elaborating on the journey of knowledge as far as etiology, clinical features, approach, and treatment strategies are concerned. Although this review cannot cover all clinical aspects related to febrile seizures at the textbook level, we believe it can function as a quick summary of the past and current sources of knowledge for all varieties of febrile seizure types and syndromes.
Revista de Fomento Social · 2019 · 7 citations · open access
Clinical guideline: febrile seizures, diagnosis, and treatment
AbstractFebrile seizures (FeS) are the most common problem in pediatric neurological practice. They are convulsive episodes during the course of febrile illness in the absence of epilepsy, severe hydroelectrolytic imbalance or neuroinfection. Its diagnosis is clinical and classified as simple and complex. Febrile status epilepticus occurs in approximately 5% of cases. It is convenient to teach parents how to act in a seizure and clarify that a FeS is not epilepsy, it is a benign process that usually does not leave neurological sequelae, and in which mortality is zero. In this clinical guide, we indicate risk factors for recurrence, management instructions for the first FeS, as well as criteria for hospital admission and treatment for prolonged seizures.
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine · 1984 · 1 citations
Febrile convulsions: a new look at an old problem
AbstractFebrile convulsions commonly occur in children and may recur in approximately 25% to 50% of patients, but intelligence and learning do not appear to be influenced even after frequent recurrences. The risk of future epilepsy is low in most patients; however, a small group of high-risk children can be identified by prior abnormal neurologic status, atypical seizures, or a family history which reveals a close relative with epilepsy. Chronic phenobarbital prophylaxis can protect patients against recurrent febrile convulsions, but the effects of such treatment on the later development of epilepsy are not known. Most children with febrile convulsions need not be treated with anticonvulsants.
International journal of pediatrics · 2016 · 0 citations
Advances in the pathogenesis and treatment of febrile seizures
AbstractFebrile seizures(FS)is a common convulsive disorder in infants and young children.It is clinically classified into simple febrile seizures(SFS)and complex febrile seizures(CFS). Although intensively investigated, it remains controversial on the etiology, pathogenesis, treatment, long-term prognosis of FS, even the definition itself is still under debate.This paper briefly reviews recent advances on the underlying mechanisms of FS, including involvement of genetic factors, role of ion channels, and immunologic and neurotransmitter dysregulation.We also gathered some new insights on the treatment and prevention of FS, aiming to improve our understanding of FS.
Key words:
Febrile seizures; Pathogenesis; Treatment; Prevention
AbstractFebrile seizures are the most common seizure disorder in children <5 years of age. They occur in 2-5% of children, but the incidence has been reported as high as 14% in certain populations. This has been attributed to higher rates of consanguinity. However, racial and geographic variations may also be important. Most febrile seizures are brief, do not require any specific treatment or workup, and have benign prognoses. Generalists and pediatricians are frequently faced with anxious parents and are required to make rational decisions regarding the workup and management of these children. Physicians are subsequently required to provide counseling and information about the prognoses to the involved families. The aim of this chapter is to provide an updated overview of febrile seizures and review the most recent diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations.
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.
