DeCure's autonomous Cardio AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 1 — screening already-approved drugs against its 27-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleHypertrophic cardiomyopathy 1 maps to a 27-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
approvedNifedipineVoltage-gated L-type calcium channel blockerapprovedVerapamilApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 1 in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
Rabbit Cav1.1-Nifedipine Complex — Nifedipine has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 6JP5, 2.9 Å). This is the drug's own deposited structure, not a prediction, and confirms it is a structurally characterised molecule rather than an untested guess.
Loading structure…
helix sheet c5udrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6JP5 · 2.9 Å · ligand Nifedipine (C5U). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Verapamil was described in 1981 as extremely effective for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but also capable of causing serious complications; the authors advised that understanding when these adverse effects are most likely to occur could minimise risk. A 1980 case report of a single 54-year-old woman with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy stated that nifedipine improved both diastolic compliance and systolic performance and relieved dyspnoea and chest pain. Another 1980 study of nifedipine in congestive cardiomyopathy reported rapid and marked ventricular unloading in patients with chronic heart failure, but noted that further studies were needed to see whether the acute haemodynamic effect would persist during long-term treatment.
A 1997 study tested temporary balloon occlusion of the first septal branch of the left anterior descending artery in 10 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. During occlusion the intraventricular gradient fell from 56.2 mmHg to 32.2 mmHg (P < 0.05) and rose again to 61.1 mmHg after release (P < 0.01). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure did not increase during ischaemia. The authors concluded that these results formed the basis for a new catheter-based interventional therapy.
A 1996 review stated that no therapies had been proven to improve prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and that there were few randomised trials of symptomatic treatment. The major drugs available were listed as beta-blockers, calcium antagonists and disopyramide. A 2024 guideline noted that scientific knowledge of the disease had improved significantly and that new medications addressing molecular mechanisms had been developed, but gave no specific efficacy data. A 2022 review of Chinese and western medicine described the disease as increasing in incidence and carrying numerous complications that seriously affect prognosis.
What is still missing are large randomised controlled trials that demonstrate a survival benefit for any drug in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The evidence for calcium-channel blockers rests on small, uncontrolled observations from the 1980s. No trial has yet stratified patients by genotype or obstruction status to test whether any agent works in a defined subgroup. Funding for such trials, rather than for further mechanistic studies or case series, remains the gap.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Circulation · 1981 · 273 citations · open access
Verapamil: its potential for causing serious complications in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
AbstractVerapamil is extremely effective in the treatment of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However, the basic physiologic actions of the drug may lead to serious adverse effects. An appreciation of this and an understanding of when these adverse effects are most likely to occur will minimize the potential of verapamil to cause serious complications in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Induction of subaortic septal ischaemia to reduce obstruction in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: Studies to develop a new catheter-based concept of treatment
AbstractAIM: To develop a new catheter-based method of treatment in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. METHOD: Does abolition of the blood supply to the subaortic part of the septum lead to regional myocardial ischaemia and a decrease in the left ventricular outflow tract gradient? To find this out, in 10 consecutive patients the first larger septal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery was temporarily occluded with conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The intracoronary electrocardiogram was registered for objective verification of the intended ischaemia. The intraventricular pressure was measured at rest and at the post extrasystolic beat under programmed electrostimulation of the right ventricle. RESULTS: During occlusion, regional ischaemia was observed in all patients. Simultaneously, there was a significant reduction of the intraventricular gradient from 56.2 mmHg to 32.2 mmHg (P < 0.05) followed by an increase from 32.2 mmHg to 61.1 mmHg (P < 0.01) after release of occlusion of the septal branch. During ischaemia there was no increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the results form the basis for a new catheter interventional therapy in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
New England Journal of Medicine · 1980 · 88 citations
Improved Diastolic Function and Systolic Performance in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy after Nifedipine
AbstractWE report the case of a 54-year-old woman with severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy without obstruction, in whom treatment with the calcium-channel blocking agent nifedipine improved both diastolic compliance and systolic performance, and relieved the symptoms of dyspnea and chest pain. These observations emphasize the importance of impaired diastolic function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and focus attention on the potential of a new class of agents in treatment of this disorder.Case HistoryA 54-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of progressive, exertional dyspnea and chest pain. Cardiac catheterization, performed elsewhere when she was 36 and 46 years old, had revealed normal left . . .
Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia · 2024 · 24 citations · open access
Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - 2024
Abstract1. Introduction Scientific knowledge of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has significantly improved in the past decades. A better understanding of its pathogenesis, significant advances in the use of imaging methods, and the more common application of genetic analysis, in addition to a better characterization of the natural history of this myocardial disease, have profoundly reformulated its clinical and prognostic significance. Conversely, these processes were accompanied by the development of new medications addressing molecular mechanisms intrinsically linked to the pathophysiology and pathogenesis [...]
Afterload reducing agents in congestive cardiomyopathy; a study with a calcium antagonist drug: nifedipine
AbstractNifedipine provides a rapid and marked ventricular unloading in patients with chronic heart failure due to congestive cardiomyopathy. We postulate that the improvement of cardiac performances is related to the effect of the drug on the peripheral circulation. However, further studies are needed to evaluate whether the acute hemodynamic effect will persist during long-term treatment.
Medical Therapy for Symptomatic Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
AbstractHypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a relatively uncommon myocardial disease with a heterogeneous presentation and complex pathophysiology. The condition is often asymptomatic; when symptoms are present, however, they are usually multiple, and each has several potential mechanisms. No therapies have been proven to improve prognosis, and there are few randomized trials of symptomatic treatment. Within these limitations, an approach to assessing the symptomatic patient is presented. The major drugs available for symptomatic therapy, namely beta-blockers, calcium antagonists and disopyramide, are reviewed. An overall management plan and a step-by-step strategy for the treatment of the symptomatic patient are presented.
Journal of Contemporary Medical Practice · 2022 · 0 citations · open access
Progress in Clinical Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
AbstractHypertrophic cardiomyopathy refers to cardiac hypertrophy caused by hypertension, aortic stenosis and other factors, with dyspnea, precardiac pain, fatigue, palpitations and other clinical manifestations, and ultimately can progress to heart failure; The clinical incidence of this disease is increasing year by year, and the complications are numerous, which seriously affect the prognosis. For the treatment of this disease, Chinese and western medicine have their own opinions, through combing the latest domestic and foreign relevant literature, systematically elaborated in recent years about the progress of Chinese and western medicine treatment of this disease, for the majority of doctors reference.
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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