DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for myotonic dystrophy type 1 — screening already-approved drugs against its 15-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleMyotonic dystrophy type 1 maps to a 15-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 myotonic dystrophy type 1 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
sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 9 (SCN9A) — SCN9A 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…
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RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 7W9K · 2.2 Å · ligand O-[(R)-{[(2R)-2,3-bis(octadecanoyloxy)propyl]oxy}(hydroxy)phosphoryl]-L-serine (P5S). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is a progressive multisystem genetic disorder and the most prevalent muscular dystrophy in adults, with an average age of death in the fifth decade. A 2014 review notes that patients have historically not received the medical and social input needed to maximise quality and life, and that an active, multidisciplinary approach to screening and management will probably improve morbidity and mortality. Genetic treatments have reversed physiological, histopathological and transcriptomic features in in-vitro and animal models, but the review only states that molecular therapeutics will probably bridge the translational gap in the near future.
A 2021 retrospective study evaluated patients with myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2 receiving mexiletine over a mean of 32.9 months (range 0.1 to 216 months). It found that 96% of patients reported some improvement in myotonia symptoms, and no clinically relevant cardiac adverse events were associated with long-term use. The study provides Class IV evidence that mexiletine is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2. A separate 2021 letter comments on an online survey of 207 patients with type 1 and 187 with type 2, noting that systematic online data gathering provides realistic results consistent with clinical studies, but raises concerns about replacing personal patient-doctor interactions with electronic visits.
What is still missing: the 2014 review mentions no completed human trials of genetic treatments, only in-vitro and animal models. The mexiletine study is retrospective and Class IV evidence, not a randomised controlled trial. No data are given on whether mexiletine alters disease progression or survival in myotonic dystrophy type 1, only symptom relief. The online survey data lack independent clinical verification of reported symptoms. No funding for definitive trials or patient stratification strategies is described.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Current Opinion in Neurology · 2014 · 191 citations
Myotonic dystrophy
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Myotonic dystrophies type 1 and type 2 are progressive multisystem genetic disorders with clinical and genetic features in common. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is the most prevalent muscular dystrophy in adults and has a wide phenotypic spectrum. The average age of death in myotonic dystrophy type 1 is in the fifth decade. In comparison, myotonic dystrophy type 2 tends to cause a milder phenotype with later onset of symptoms and is less common than myotonic dystrophy type 1. Historically, patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 have not received the medical and social input they need to maximize their quality and quantity of life. This review describes the improved understanding in the molecular and clinical features of myotonic dystrophy type 1 as well as the screening of clinical complications and their management. We will also discuss new potential genetic treatments. RECENT FINDINGS: An active approach to screening and management of myotonic dystrophies type 1 and type 2 requires a multidisciplinary medical, rehabilitative and social team. This process will probably improve morbidity and mortality for patients. Genetic treatments have been successfully used in in-vitro and animal models to reverse the physiological, histopathological and transcriptomic features. SUMMARY: Molecular therapeutics for myotonic dystrophy will probably bridge the translational gap between bench and bedside in the near future. There will still be a requirement for clinical screening of patients with myotonic dystrophy with proactive and systematic management of complications.
Neurology Clinical Practice · 2021 · 14 citations · open access
Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Mexiletine in Myotonic Dystrophy Types 1 and 2
AbstractBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2 are progressive multisystem genetic disorders whose core clinical feature is myotonia. Mexiletine, an antagonist of voltage-gated sodium channels, is a recommended antimyotonic agent in the nondystrophic myotonias, but its use in myotonic dystrophy is limited because of lack of data regarding its long-term efficacy and safety profile. METHODS: To address this issue, this study retrospectively evaluated patients with myotonic dystrophy receiving mexiletine over a mean time period of 32.9 months (range 0.1-216 months). RESULTS: This study demonstrated that 96% of patients reported some improvement in myotonia symptoms with mexiletine treatment. No clinically relevant cardiac adverse events were associated with the long-term use of mexiletine. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support that mexiletine is both safe and effective when used long-term in myotonic dystrophy. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that mexiletine is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2.
European Neurology · 2021 · 2 citations · open access
Do Not Replace Personal Patient/Doctor Interactions by Electronic Visits in Myotonic Dystrophy Patients
AbstractWith interest we read the article by Wenninger et al. [1] about an online survey on current symptoms among 207 patients with myotonic dystrophy type-1 (MD1) and 187 patients with myotonic dystrophy type-2 (MD2). It was concluded that the results are consistent with the results of clinical studies and online registries and that systematic online gathering of data from patients with rare diseases is useful and provides realistic and appropriate results [1]. The study has a number of limitations and raises the following comments and concerns.
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.
