DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for otitis externa — screening already-approved drugs against its 4-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleOtitis externa maps to a 4-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 otitis externa 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
oxysterol binding protein like 1A (OSBPL1A) — OSBPL1A 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 2~{s}drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 5ZM6 · 2.7 Å · ligand [(2~{S})-1-octadecanoyloxy-3-[oxidanyl-[(1~{R},2~{R},3~{S},4~{S},5~{S},6~{S})-2,3,6-tris(oxidanyl)-4,5-diphosphonooxy-cyclohexyl]oxy-phosphoryl]oxy-propan-2-yl] icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoate (IEP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Otitis externa has a lifetime prevalence of 10% and accounts for 1.1–1.3% of patient presentations in primary care and 25% of urgent referrals to ENT. General practitioner consultations for otitis externa increased 25% over 15 years. A 1993 US survey found that fewer than 20% of patients had concomitant diagnoses treatable by medication, yet 40% received both topical and systemic medication, and many oral antibiotics prescribed were not active against *Staphylococcus aureus* or *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, the most common bacterial pathogens. A 2021 UK study of 101 general practitioner respondents reported that they frequently prescribed oral antibiotics for otitis externa. Topical antimicrobial treatments lead to a higher cure rate than placebo, and corticosteroid preparations lessen swelling, erythema, and secretions. Oral antibiotics are indicated only if infection has spread beyond the ear canal or in patients with poorly controlled diabetes or immunosuppression.
A 2021 UK study of 162 consecutive hospital otitis externa-related bacterial isolates found 128 *Pseudomonas* species, with 18 resistant to gentamicin and 7 resistant to ciprofloxacin. The same study reviewed ten guidelines and found systematic inconsistencies. A 2019 review noted that there have been no large-scale randomised controlled trials of local antibiotic and corticosteroid preparations. A 1951 article argued that treatment should rest on principles—cleansing, limited use of a few antibacterial or fungicidal agents, and relief of discomfort—rather than on special agents. A 1954 letter added that the commonest cause of otitis externa is seborrhoea, and that neglecting to treat the scalp alongside the ear gives poor or only temporary response.
Chronic otitis externa is often due to an underlying skin disease. Malignant (necrotising) otitis externa, a destructive infection with osteomyelitis of the petrous bone, arises mainly in elderly diabetic or immunosuppressed patients and can be life-threatening. The 1999 US data indicated that few cases were classified as severe. The 2021 UK study found that general practitioner ototopical preparations cost the National Health Service £7,410,440 in 2006 and £11,325,241 in 2016. What is still missing are large-scale randomised controlled trials of topical antibiotic and corticosteroid preparations, consistent clinical guidelines, and evidence that current prescribing patterns—particularly the frequent use of oral antibiotics—are not driving antimicrobial resistance without improving outcomes. Patient stratification by underlying skin disease, diabetes status, and pathogen resistance profiles is also lacking.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Deutsches Ärzteblatt international · 2019 · 76 citations · open access
Otitis Externa: Investigation and Evidence-Based Treatment
AbstractBACKGROUND: Otitis externa has a lifetime prevalence of 10% and can arise in acute, chronic, and necrotizing forms. METHODS: This review is based on publications retrieved by a selective search of the pertinent literature. RESULTS: The treatment of acute otitis media consists of anal- gesia, cleansing of the external auditory canal, and the appli- cation of antiseptic and antimicrobial agents. Local antibiotic and corticosteroid preparations have been found useful, but there have been no large-scale randomized controlled trials of their use. Topical antimicrobial treatments lead to a higher cure rate than placebo, and corticosteroid preparations lessen swelling, erythema, and secretions. Oral antibiotics are indi- cated if the infection has spread beyond the ear canal or in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus or immuno- suppression. Chronic otitis externa is often due to an under- lying skin disease. Malignant otitis externa, a destructive infection of the external auditory canal in which there is also osteomyelitis of the petrous bone, arises mainly in elderly diabetic or immunosuppressed patients and can be life- threatening. CONCLUSION: With correct assessment of the different types of otitis externa, rapidly effective targeted treatment can be initi- ated, so that complications will be avoided and fewer cases will progress to chronic disease.
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine · 1999 · 57 citations · open access
Treatment Patterns for Otitis Externa
AbstractBACKGROUND: Although otitis externa is a common and painful infection of the outer ear canal, there is little specific information available regarding current treatment patterns in the United States. We wanted to examine treatment patterns for otitis externa. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 1993 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the 1993 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) for adults and children treated for otitis externa. Data analyses included the reasons for physician visits, concomitant diagnoses, types of physicians seen, sources of payment, medical procedures administered, drugs prescribed, and patient disposition following a physician visit. RESULTS: Study results suggested that treatment patterns differ substantially for adults and children, as well as by physician specialty. Although otitis externa is frequently painful, few cases are classified as severe, and the data indicated that less than 20 percent of patients have concomitant diagnoses treatable by medication. Nevertheless, 40 percent of patients received both topical and systemic medication, and many of the oral antibiotics prescribed are not active against Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the most common bacterial pathogens in otitis externa. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate treatment of localized otitis externa with topical antibiotics should eliminate the need for systemic medications. Addition of systemic medications can unnecessarily increase treatment costs and the likelihood of side effects, and could reduce the likelihood of patient compliance.
AbstractAbstract The treatment of otitis externa should be a matter of principles rather than of the use of special agents. Once principles are established and understood, other therapeutic details fall into their proper relationship. The best results are secured by otologists who limit themselves to a few agents, select them because of their antibacterial or fungicidal effects, employ them for as brief a period as the necessities of the case permit, and supplement them by thorough cleansing of the external auditory canal and by measures for the relief of discomfort
The Physician and Sportsmedicine · 1994 · 2 citations
Managing Inflammatory Ear Conditions
AbstractIn brief Otitis externa, which often afflicts swimmers, and otitis media, which can afflict almost anyone, are common inflammatory ear conditions. Ear drops containing acidifying and drying agents, often combined with topical antibiotics and topical steroids, are the appropriate treatment for otitis externa. Without the antibiotic and steroid additions, they can also be used prophylactically. Systemic antibiotic treatment is appropriate for otitis media, but not for otitis externa.
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology · 2021 · 1 citations · open access
Otitis externa – what is the problem with getting it right? A mixed-methods study in primary and secondary care
AbstractOBJECTIVE: Otitis externa accounts for 1.1-1.3 per cent of patient presentations in primary care and 25 per cent of urgent referrals to ENT. This study aimed to explore otitis externa clinical decision-making at the primary-secondary care interface, otitis externa prevalence and recent trends in antimicrobial resistance in otitis externa related bacterial isolates and ototopical prescribing. METHOD: This is a mixed-methods study drawing on data from primary and secondary care and open National Health Service sources. RESULTS: A total of 101 general practitioner survey respondents reported frequently prescribing oral antibiotics for otitis externa. General practitioner consultations for otitis externa increased 25 per cent over 15 years. General practitioner ototopical preparations cost the National Health Service £7 410 440 in 2006 and £11 325 241 in 2016. A total of 162 consecutive hospital otitis externa-related bacterial isolates yielded 128 pseudomonas species, with 18 that were resistant to gentamicin and 7 that were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Ten guidelines reviewed showed systematic inconsistencies. CONCLUSION: General practitioners reported regularly prescribing oral antibiotics for otitis externa. Antimicrobial drug resistance is common in otitis externa. The available guidance is suboptimal.
Abstract<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> In the Jan. 16 issue ofThe Journal, Dr. McLaurin has written a fine article about the principles of treatment of otitis externa. From the dermatologist's point of view, however, he has omitted one of the principles that we consider most important. That is that the commonest cause of otitis externa is seborrhea, and, unless one looks for it in the scalp and treats that area too, one will make little progress in treating the ear. Diffuse scaling of the scalp, with or without inflammation, is an indication for treatment of the scalp as well as the ear with any of the standard preparations for this cause. Treatment of the ear with neglect of the scalp is almost certain to give a poor or only temporary response.
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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