DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for hereditary spastic paraplegia 11 — screening already-approved drugs against its 3-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleHereditary spastic paraplegia 11 maps to a 3-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 hereditary spastic paraplegia 11 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
calpain 1 (CAPN1) — CAPN1 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 2sdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 7X79 · 1.8 Å · ligand N-[(2S)-3-cyclohexyl-1-oxidanylidene-1-[[(2S,3S)-3-oxidanyl-4-oxidanylidene-1-[(3S)-2-oxidanylidenepiperidin-3-yl]-4-[(phenylmethyl)amino]butan-2-yl]amino]propan-2-yl]-1-benzofuran-2-carboxamide (89K). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2006 study of two consanguineous families with complicated autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) identified a new genetic locus on chromosome 8p12-p11.21. The families presented with thin corpus callosum and mental retardation in one, and epilepsy in two of three affected individuals in the other. Linkage analysis gave a combined lod score of 7.077 at marker D8S505, defining a 9 cM interval. The neuregulin and KIF13B genes within this interval were noted as functional candidates. This locus is distinct from the previously known SPG11 locus on chromosome 15q13-q15.
A 2017 review of balance impairments and falls in hereditary spastic paraplegia states that these are among the most debilitating symptoms, frequently causing fall-related injuries. The review offers recommendations for diagnostic workup and management, but these are based on scientific evidence when available and otherwise on practice-based evidence supported by clinical experience. No specific drug treatment is discussed; the focus is on multidisciplinary management tailored to identified underlying mechanisms.
A 1988 report describes six families with 26 affected members, all initially referred as children with slowly progressive paraplegia, slightly delayed motor milestones, normal intellect, and no history of perinatal cerebral event. The disease was characterised as usually autosomal dominant with slow progression of spastic paraparesis. Treatment was limited to tendon lengthenings when necessary. The authors stress that recognition through careful patient and family history is the key to management.
No drug therapy is mentioned in any of these abstracts. There is no evidence from these papers of any pharmacological intervention that alters the course of hereditary spastic paraplegia, whether for SPG11 or other genetic subtypes. What is missing is any controlled trial of a drug for this condition, any identified molecular target for treatment, and any patient stratification beyond genetic linkage.
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 · 2006 · 52 citations
A novel locus for hereditary spastic paraplegia with thin corpus callosum and epilepsy
AbstractBACKGROUND: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) are classified clinically as pure when progressive spasticity occurs in isolation or complicated when other neurologic abnormalities are present. At least 22 genetic loci have been linked to HSP, 8 of which are autosomal recessive (ARHSP). HSP complicated with the presence of thin corpus callosum (HSP-TCC) is a common subtype of HSP. One genetic locus has been identified on chromosome 15q13-q15 (SPG11) for HSP-TCC, but some HSP-TCC families have not been linked to this locus. METHODS: The authors characterized two families clinically and radiologically and performed a genome-wide scan and linkage analysis. RESULTS: The two families had complicated ARHSP. The affected individuals in Family A had thin corpus callosum and mental retardation, whereas in Family B two of three affected individuals had epilepsy. In both families linkage analysis identified a locus on chromosome 8 between markers D8S1820 and D8S532 with the highest combined lod score of 7.077 at marker D8S505. This 9 cM interval located on 8p12-p11.21 represents a new locus for ARHSP-TCC. Neuregulin and KIF13B genes, located within this interval, are interesting functional candidate genes for this HSP form. CONCLUSION: Two consanguineous families with complicated autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia were clinically characterized and genetically mapped to a new locus on 8p12-p11.21.
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine · 2017 · 22 citations · open access
Pathophysiology, diagnostic work-up and management of balance impairments and falls in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia
AbstractINTRODUCTION: Balance impairments are common in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia and are among the most debilitating symptoms, as they frequently result in falls and fall-related injuries. Several features of hereditary spastic paraplegia contribute to balance impairments and multiple treatment options exist. However, an overview of these underlying mechanisms and their treatment is currently lacking. METHODS: This paper reviews the pathophysiology, diagnostic workup, and management of balance impairments in hereditary spastic paraplegia. Recommendations are based on scientific evidence, when available, and otherwise reflect practice-based evidence supported by clinical experience. CONCLUSION: Through diligent history-taking and clinical examination, followed by multidisciplinary treatment tailored to the identified underlying mechanisms, balance capacities can be improved in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia and at least a proportion of falls can be prevented.
Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics · 1988 · 11 citations
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
AbstractHereditary spastic paraplegia is a genetically transmitted disease that is usually autosomal dominant. Characterized by a slow progression of spastic paraparesis, it is frequently misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy. Our experience consists of six families with a total of 26 affected members. All initial referrals were children with a slowly progressive paraplegia. Each child was noted to have slightly delayed motor milestones, normal intellect, and no history of perinatal cerebral event. Each child was treated when necessary with appropriate tendon lengthenings. Recognition is the key to management. A careful patient and family history will reveal the hereditary nature of the disease and help develop treatment plans.
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.
