DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for keratoconus — screening already-approved drugs against its 37-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleKeratoconus maps to a 37-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 keratoconus 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
prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS) — PTGDS 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 pe3drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 4ORR · 1.4 Å · ligand 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30,33,36,39-TRIDECAOXAHENTETRACONTANE-1,41-DIOL (PE3). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a 2008 retrospective study of 480 eyes from 272 patients with progressive keratoconus, collagen crosslinking using riboflavin and ultraviolet-A light produced a mean steepening reduction of 2.68 diopters in the first year, 2.21 D in the second, and 4.84 D in the third. Best corrected visual acuity improved by at least one line in 53% of 142 eyes at one year, 57% of 66 eyes at two years, and 58% of 33 eyes at three years; it remained stable in 20%, 24%, and 29% respectively. Two patients had continued progression and required repeat crosslinking. The authors concluded that the treatment provided long-term stabilisation and improvement, though they noted the number of patients with follow-up beyond three years was low.
A 2009 prospective nonrandomised study of 20 eyes in 19 patients reported a mean gain of 4.15 lines in uncorrected visual acuity and 1.65 lines in best corrected visual acuity one year after crosslinking. Average keratometry fell by 1.36 D, manifest sphere by 1.26 D, and manifest cylinder by 1.25 D. The authors described the procedure as safe and effective for progressive keratoconus.
A 2021 bibliometric analysis of 4,419 keratoconus papers found that 18.5% had never been cited. The most cited paper was a general review by Yaron Rabinowitz, who also had the highest author impact in the field. The United States was the most impactful country, and the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery the most impactful journal. A 2024 review stated that despite extensive research, the precise cause of keratoconus remains unknown. A 2012 case series of three patients emphasised that periodic follow-up allows therapy to be matched to the disease stage.
What is still missing is a clear understanding of the disease’s underlying cause, which limits the ability to target it directly rather than just stiffen the cornea. Long-term data beyond three years remain sparse, and the 2009 study was small and not randomised. No trial has yet stratified patients by molecular biomarkers or systemic associations to predict who will progress despite crosslinking.
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 Cataract & Refractive Surgery · 2008 · 953 citations
Collagen crosslinking with riboflavin and ultraviolet-A light in keratoconus: Long-term results
AbstractPURPOSE: To prove the long-term dampening effect of riboflavin- and ultraviolet-A-induced collagen crosslinking on progressive keratoconus. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, C.G. Carus University Hospital, Dresden, Germany. METHODS: Four hundred eighty eyes of 272 patients with progressive keratoconus were included in this long-term retrospective study. The maximum follow-up was 6 years. At the first and all follow-up examinations, refraction, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal topography, corneal thickness, and intraocular pressure were recorded. RESULTS: The analysis included 241 eyes with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. The steepening decreased significantly by 2.68 diopters (D) in the first year, 2.21 D in the second year, and 4.84 D in the third year. The BCVA improved significantly (> or = 1 line) in 53% of 142 eyes in the first year, 57% of 66 eyes in the second year, and 58% of 33 eyes in the first year or remained stable (no lines lost) in 20%, 24%, and 29%, respectively. Two patients had continuous progression of keratoconus and had repeat crosslinking procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low number of patients with a follow-up longer than 3 years, results indicate long-term stabilization and improvement after collagen crosslinking. Thus, collagen crosslinking is an effective therapeutical option for progressive keratoconus.
Oman Journal of Ophthalmology · 2009 · 74 citations · open access
Collagen cross-linking with riboflavin and ultraviolet-A light in keratoconus: One-year results
AbstractBACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of riboflavin-ultraviolet type A (UV-A) light rays induced cross-linking of corneal collagen in improving visual acuity and in stabilizing the progression of keratoconic eyes. The method of corneal cross-linking using riboflavin and UV-A light is technically simple and less invasive than all other therapies proposed for keratoconus. It is the only treatment that treats not only the refractive effects of the condition but the underlying pathophysiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, nonrandomized clinical study, 20 eyes of 19 patients with keratoconus were treated by combined riboflavin UV-A collagen cross linking. The eyes were saturated with riboflavin solution and were subjected for 30 min under UV-A light with a dose parameter of 3 mW/cm(2). Safety and effectiveness of the treatment was assessed by measuring the uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, manifest cylinder/sphere, keratometry, pachymetry, posterior and anterior elevations from Pentacam and corneal aberrations at 6 months and 1 year post-treatment. RESULTS: Comparative analysis of the pre-operative and 1 year post-operative evaluation showed a mean gain of 4.15 lines of UCVA (P= 0.001) and 1.65 lines of BCVA (P= 0.002). The reduction in the average keratometry reading was 1.36 D (P= 0.0004) and 1.4 D (P= 0.001) at the apex. Manifest refraction sphere showed a mean reduction of 1.26 D (P= 0.033) and 1.25 D (0.0003) for manifest cylinder. Topo-aberrometric analysis showed improvement in corneal symmetry. CONCLUSION: Cross-linking was safe and an effective therapeutical option for progressive keratoconus.
Clinical and Experimental Optometry · 2021 · 10 citations · open access
Bibliometric analysis of the keratoconus literature
AbstractClinical Relevance Clinicians, researchers funding agencies and indeed the general public can benefit from knowledge of the most highly cited papers and most impactful authors, institutions, countries and journals in the field of keratoconus.Background Bibliometrics relating to the keratoconus literature were derived to enable identification of the most impactful papers published, as well as the leading authors, institutions, countries and journals.Methods A search was undertaken of the titles of papers on the Scopus database to identify keratoconus-related articles. The 20 most highly cited papers were determined from the total list of 4,419 papers found. Rank-order lists by count were assembled for the ‘top 20ʹ in each of four categories: authors, institutions, countries and journals. A subject-specific keratoconus-related h-index (hKC-index) was derived for each constituent of each category to serve as a measure of impact in the field. The top 10 constituents of each category were ranked by hKC-index and tabulated for consideration.Results The hKC-index of the keratoconus field is 125. The 4,419 papers have been cited a total of 98,010 times, and 18.5% of these papers have never been cited. The most highly cited paper is a general review of keratoconus by Yaron Rabinowitz, who is also the most impactful author in the field (hKC = 31). The Cedars Sinai Medical Center in the United States produces the most impactful keratoconus-related papers (hKC = 36), and the United States is the most impactful country (hKC = 91). The Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery is the most impactful journal (hKC = 55).Conclusion Keratoconus is a topic of high interest in the clinical and scientific literature. Highly cited papers and impactful authors, institutions, countries and journals are identified.
Expert Review of Ophthalmology · 2024 · 9 citations · open access
Systemic and ocular associations of Keratoconus
AbstractIntroduction: Keratoconus (KC) is the most prevalent corneal ectasia in the world and its pathogenesis is influenced by both ocular and systemic factors. This review explores the multifaceted associations between keratoconus and systemic health conditions, ocular characteristics, and various other environmental/exogenous factors, aiming to illuminate how these relationships influence the pathophysiology of the disease. Areas Covered: This review will summarize the fundamental attributes of KC, review and discuss the systemic and ocular association of KC including molecular biomarkers, and provide an organized overview of the parallel alterations occurring within various biological pathways in KC. Expert Opinion: Despite the substantial volume of research on keratoconus, the precise etiology of the disease remains elusive. Further studies are necessary to deepen our understanding of this intricate disorder and improve its management.
International Journal of Keratoconus and Ectatic Corneal Diseases · 2012 · 0 citations · open access
Sequential Management of Keratoconus Treatment
AbstractABSTRACT The authors describe three cases of patients with bilateral keratoconus. The clinical evolution, tomographic features and the different therapeutic options selected in accordance with the evolution of the disease over the course of 10 years of follow-up are discussed. A periodic follow-up of patients with keratoconus allows planning the most appropriate therapy according to the evolutionary stage of the disease. How to cite this article Rodrigues FD, Santos GC, Gonçalves S, Ferreira CC, Salgado-Borges JM. Sequential Management of Keratoconus Treatment. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2012;1(3):201-204.
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.
