DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for gingival overgrowth — 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 moduleGingival overgrowth 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 gingival overgrowth 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
ret proto-oncogene (RET) — RET 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 apo structuredrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6Q2O · 3.65 Å · ligand none (apo structure). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Drug-induced gingival overgrowth is an adverse reaction to anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, and calcium channel blockers. The abnormal growth of the gingiva can interfere with oral hygiene and mastication, cause pain, and lead to disfigurement. Within the group of patients who develop this effect, there is variability in the extent and severity of the changes. A 2007 study of manidipine, a calcium channel blocker, found the prevalence of induced gingival overgrowth to be 1%, with only one case among the surveyed patients.
Treatment approaches include surgical options such as gingivectomy, periodontal flap, electrosurgery, and laser excision, as well as non-surgical approaches including oral hygiene measures, scaling and root planing, and discontinuation or replacement of the offending drug. A 2019 case report of amlodipine-induced gingival enlargement described that after drug substitution and non-surgical treatment with scaling and root planing, the enlargement subsided to a normal state.
The condition is associated with multiple factors beyond drugs, including congenital diseases, hormonal disturbances, poor oral hygiene, inflammation, and neoplastic conditions. The plaque-retentive areas created by the overgrowth can increase oral bacterial load and further worsen quality of life. No controlled trial data comparing treatment modalities or quantifying long-term resolution rates were provided in these abstracts.
What is still missing are prospective studies that stratify patients by drug class, severity, and oral hygiene status, as well as randomised comparisons of surgical versus non-surgical management. Funding for such trials and standardised outcome measures for gingival overgrowth resolution remain absent.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology · 2013 · 88 citations · open access
Drug-induced gingival overgrowth: The nemesis of gingiva unravelled
AbstractDrug-induced gingival overgrowth or enlargement manifests as abnormal growth of the gingiva due to an adverse drug reaction (ADR) in patients treated with anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, and calcium channel blockers. As gingival enlargement develops, it affects the normal oral hygiene practice and may interfere with masticatory functions. It gradually becomes a source of pain and the condition often leads to disfiguration. Within the group of patients that develop this unwanted effect, there appears to be variability in the extent and severity of the gingival changes. It would seem pertinent to identify and explore possible risk factors and relating them with the treatment plan. This article throws light on respective drugs and their association with gingival overgrowth and approaches to treatment based on current knowledge and investigative observations.
International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry · 2024 · 1 citations · open access
Nonsurgical Management of Drug-induced Gingival Overgrowth in a Young Patient
AbstractBackground: Gingival enlargement or gingival overgrowth (GO) is a very common complication of the various classes of drugs and the most common being, the anticonvulsant drug phenytoin (PHT). PHT and its metabolites have a direct effect on the periodontal tissues; with poor oral hygiene also contributing to the severity of inflammation in patients with drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO). Case description: Here we present a case of PHT-induced gingival overgrowth (PGO) in a 12-year-old male patient and discuss the management of the condition. Conclusion: Management of drug-induced overgrowth of gingiva includes strict oral hygiene maintenance practice, meticulous professional care with several adjunctive periodontal therapies like photodynamic therapy and Local drug delivery. Surgical treatment is indicated if the overgrown tissue has become fibrotic. Clinical significance: The pediatric dentist plays an important role in early identification and proper management of the condition by timely intervention and collaboration with other specialists. How to cite this article: Dalal R, Garg S, Gupta A. Nonsurgical Management of Drug-induced Gingival Overgrowth in a Young Patient. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(S-3):S331-S334.
AbstractGingival overgrowth is associated with multiple factors including congenital diseases, hormonal disturbances, poor oral hygiene condition, inflammation, neoplastic conditions, and adverse drug reactions including anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers, and immunosuppressants. This can have a detrimental effect on the quality of life and also on high oral bacterial load caused by plaque-retentive areas. Various treatment modalities include both surgical (gingivectomy, periodontal flap, electrosurgery, and laser excision) and nonsurgical approaches (oral hygiene measures, scaling and root planing, discontinuation of the drug, or the replacement of the drug with other alternative).
International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies · 2019 · 0 citations · open access
EFFECTIVENESS OF NON-SURGICAL PERIODONTAL THERAPY ON AMLODIPINE INDUCED GINGIVAL ENLARGEMENT: A CASE REPORT
AbstractGingival enlargement, [sometimes abbreviated to GO (gingival overgrowth)] is an increase in the size of the gingiva. It is a common feature of gingival disease. Gingival enlargement is a well known side-effect of drugs like anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers and immunosuppressant. A case of amlodipine induced gingival enlargement was reported and after drug substitution when the patient was treated non-surgically (scaling and root planing), the enlargement subsides to a normal state which suggested the effectiveness of non-surgical periodontal therapy in the treatment of drug induced gingival enlargement. Keywords: Anticonvulsants, Immunosuppressants, Calcium channel blockers, gingival enlargement
International Journal of Oral-Medical Sciences · 2007 · 0 citations · open access
Prevalence of Manidipine-Induced Gingival Overgrowth
AbstractWe studied the prevalence of manidipine-induced gingival overgrowth. The incidence of such overgrowth was 1%, and was found in only one case among the surveyed patients. Together with a review of the literature regarding the pathogenesis and clinical management of drug-induced gingival overgrowth, we describe a case of manidipine-induced gingival overgrowth.
Brazilian Journal of Development · 2021 · 0 citations · open access
Amlodipine-induced gingival overgrowth – Review and Case Report / Crescimento gengival induzido por Amlodipina - Revisão e Relato de Caso
AbstractGingival overgrowth or enlargement is among one of the most important clinical features of gingival pathology frequently seen in periodontal clinic. Gingival overgrowth is a serious side e?ect that accompanies the use of amlodipine. Amlodipine is a comparatively new calcium channel blocker and is being used with increasing frequency in the management of hypertension and angina pectoris. Pertinent management depends on precisely diagnosing the origin of overgrowth. Cessation or change of drug and meticulous plaque control often leads to regression of the lesion, which however might need surgical correction for optimal maintenance of gingival health. The purpose of this article is to present a case report and highlight significant aspects of Amlodipine-Induced Gingival Overgrowth (AIGO).
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.
