DeCure's autonomous Nephrology AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for interstitial cystitis — screening already-approved drugs against its 43-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleInterstitial cystitis maps to a 43-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 interstitial cystitis 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
serpin family C member 1 (SERPINC1) — SERPINC1 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 z9ldrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 3KCG · 1.7 Å · ligand methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-sulfo-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (Z9L). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2005 randomised controlled trial of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in 265 patients with treatment-refractory interstitial cystitis found a primary outcome response rate of 12% for placebo and 21% for BCG (p = 0.062), which was not statistically significant. Small improvements in secondary outcomes favoured BCG but were of borderline significance. The authors concluded that effective medical treatment for moderate to severe interstitial cystitis remains elusive.
A 2004 study of 23 patients treated with low-dose cyclosporine A for at least one year reported that the number of voidings in 24 hours decreased from 20.8 before treatment to 10.2 after one year (p < 0.001). Maximal bladder capacity increased from 161.8 ml to 360.7 ml (p < 0.001), and mean voided volume increased from 101.4 ml to 246.4 ml (p < 0.001). Of the 23 patients, 20 reported no bladder pain on treatment. Eleven patients stopped treatment due to good clinical effect; in nine of these, symptoms recurred within months but disappeared again when cyclosporine A was restarted. Side effects were infrequent.
Two 2006 reviews summarise the state of knowledge. One notes that interstitial cystitis pathogenesis remains uncertain, that the illness has significant diversity, and that a single effective therapy remains elusive. The other claims that a heparinoid-based multimodal medical regimen can effectively control symptoms in the majority of cases, and that intravesical therapies are promising adjuncts. These review claims are not supported by the randomised trial data from 2005.
What is still missing is a randomised controlled trial of cyclosporine A against placebo or an active comparator, with adequate sample size and long-term follow-up. The BCG trial was adequately powered but gave a negative result. Patient stratification by disease subtype, which the 2006 review calls for, has not been performed in any published trial. Funding for such trials remains scarce.
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 Journal of Urology · 2005 · 133 citations
A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF INTRAVESICAL BACILLUS CALMETTE-GUERIN FOR TREATMENT REFRACTORY INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS
AbstractPURPOSE: We compared intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) to placebo instillations in patients with treatment refractory interstitial cystitis (IC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects who met the National Institutes of Health-National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria for IC, and reported at least moderate pain and frequency for a minimum of 6 months before study entry, were randomized to 6 weekly double-blinded intravesical instillations of either BCG or placebo, and then followed for a total of 34 weeks. The primary outcome was a patient reported global response assessment at week 34, supplemented with medications for IC during weeks 31 to 34. Secondary outcomes included a 24-hour voiding diary, pain, urgency, validated IC symptom indexes and adverse events. The target sample size was 260 participants, designed to detect a difference in response rates between placebo and BCG of 30% and 50%, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 265 participants were randomized and 17 (6%) patients withdrew from study. The response rates for the primary outcome were 12% for placebo and 21% for BCG (p = 0.062). Small improvements were observed for all secondary outcomes, some more so with BCG, but these differences were of borderline statistical significance. Although a large number of adverse events were reported in the BCG arm, there was no statistically significant difference between the treatment arms in overall adverse event rates. CONCLUSIONS: Although the BCG safety profile was acceptable, the response rate for the primary outcome was low. Effective medical treatment for patients with moderate to severe interstitial cystitis remains elusive.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS TREATED WITH LOW DOSE CYCLOSPORINE A
AbstractPURPOSE: We evaluated patients with interstitial cystitis who had been on cyclosporine A treatment for at least a year. Symptom improvement on micturition charts and subjective expression of bladder pain were recorded. Side effects and safety of medication were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 23 patients (20 females and 3 males) fulfilling National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria of interstitial cystitis were included in this study. Age of patients at followup was 65.7 +/- 7.6 years (mean +/- SD). Mean followup was 60.8 +/- 35.7 months. Before starting cyclosporine A treatment multiple first line therapies had been tried without clinical help. RESULTS: The number of voidings in 24 hours was 20.8 +/- 6.3 before treatment. After a year of cyclosporine A treatment it was decreased to 10.2 +/- 3.8 (p < 0.001). Maximal bladder capacity increased from 161.8 +/- 74.6 to 360.7 +/- 99.3 ml in a year (p < 0.001). Mean voided volume increased from 101.4 +/- 42.7 to 246.4 +/- 97.9 ml (p < 0.001). The effect was maintained throughout followup. Of 23 total patients 20 reported no bladder pain on cyclosporine A treatment and 11 patients stopped treatment due to a good clinical effect. In 9 patients symptoms recurred within months but disappeared again after cyclosporine A treatment was restarted. Side effects of medication were infrequent. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclosporine A treatment was safe and effective in treating interstitial cystitis. The achieved therapeutic effect was maintained in the long term. Cessation of medication led to recurrence of symptoms in most cases.
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases · 2006 · 27 citations
Interstitial cystitis pathogenesis and treatment
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Interstitial cystitis remains an idiopathic illness characterized by urinary frequency, urgency and pelvic pain with substantial morbidity in those affected. There is significant variability in the presentation, severity of symptoms and response to therapy. This review focuses on recent findings on the possible pathogenesis and potential treatments for this disease. RECENT FINDINGS: Interstitial cystitis is manifested by sensory hypersensitivity. A small volume of urine will be associated with an exaggerated sensation of pain or pressure and urinary urgency. There is continued research regarding how this process is initiated and maintained and to what extent systemic dysfunction of the immune or autonomic nervous system may play a role. The urothelial lining has been demonstrated to be capable of secreting a large number of potential signaling molecules that may be significant factors in the disease. SUMMARY: The pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis remains uncertain and the illness has significant diversity. Additional research is needed to establish subtypes that share common processes that can be targeted for treatment as a single effective therapy for the condition remains elusive.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy · 2006 · 11 citations
Advances in the treatment of interstitial cystitis
AbstractRecent years have brought dramatic advances in the clinician's ability to offer effective pharmacotherapy to patients who have interstitial cystitis. Medical treatments have been developed and applied to reduce the interstitial cystitis symptoms of pelvic pain and urinary urgency/frequency, and to address underlying causes of the disorder. In addition, advances in the understanding of the natural history of interstitial cystitis have revealed that it is insidiously progressive and the classical definition--rare, severe and difficult to treat--is in fact the relatively uncommon, advanced stage of a disorder that affects most individuals in a mild-to-moderate and readily treatable form. This recognition has led to the identification of large numbers of previously unsuspected cases of interstitial cystitis, and the successful treatment of many individuals in the early stages of interstitial cystitis when it is far more responsive to therapy. A heparinoid-based multimodal medical regimen can effectively control symptoms and address disease pathophysiology in the majority of cases. Intravesical therapeutic solutions are new and promising adjunctive therapies that can offer immediate symptom relief during symptom flares, and for patients who are just beginning medical therapy.
Management of Patients with Interstitial Cystitis: A Case Study
AbstractInterstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by urinary frequency, urgency, and pain in the bladder or pelvis that for some can be debilitating. At present, IC is without cure, yet various management modalities are available. This article provides a general overview of the history, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of IC. A specific case study that focuses on a surgical management option is highlighted.
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.
