DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for palmoplantar pustulosis — screening already-approved drugs against its 13-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease modulePalmoplantar pustulosis maps to a 13-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 palmoplantar pustulosis 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
phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) — PDE4D 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 difluoromethoxydrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 5WH6 · 1.6 Å · ligand 1-[4-(difluoromethoxy)-3-{[(3S)-oxolan-3-yl]oxy}phenyl]-3-methylbutan-1-one (AKJ). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In an open-label study of 20 patients with palmoplantar pustulosis, excimer light therapy at 308 nm with a filter was given once weekly for 30 sessions. The mean Palmoplantar Pustulosis Area and Severity Index score fell from 19.5 at baseline to 13.2 after 10 treatments, 10.9 after 20 treatments, and 9.5 after 30 treatments. Circulating regulatory T cell levels after therapy were significantly higher than at baseline, while Th17 levels showed no significant change. The study did not include a control group, and no data on sustained remission after treatment cessation were reported.
A retrospective study of 71 patients with idiopathic palmoplantar pustulosis available for follow-up reported that 55 were treated with a strong topical steroid under plastic occlusion. Two-thirds of those treated had excellent to good results after 2 to 16 weeks, but relapses were not prevented. The study did not specify outcomes for the remaining 16 patients or provide a comparator group.
A 2013 review of pathogenetic factors notes that palmoplantar pustulosis is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disorder of unclear etiology, characterised by periodic crops of small aseptic pustules on an erythematous base, often in women aged 30 to 50 years. The review summarises associations with immunity, smoking, sensitising metals, plasma calcium, and infection, but does not report any treatment outcomes or controlled trial data.
What is still missing are randomised controlled trials with adequate sample sizes, standardised outcome measures, and long-term follow-up to assess durability of response. No therapy has been shown to alter the natural history of the disease or prevent relapse, and patient stratification by smoking status, metal sensitivity, or immune profile has not been prospectively tested.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Experimental Dermatology · 2011 · 38 citations · open access
Efficacy of excimer light therapy (308 nm) for palmoplantar pustulosis with the induction of circulating regulatory T cells
AbstractIn this open-label study, we investigated the efficacy of excimer light (308 nm) with a filter to cut off wavelengths below 297 nm for the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP). Twenty patients with PPP were recruited and treated once a week for a total of 30 sessions. Patient response was assessed every 10 sessions based on the Palmoplantar Pustulosis Area and Severity Index (PPPASI) score. Levels of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) in the peripheral blood in patients with PPP were also evaluated. Mean PPPASI score was 19.5 at baseline, 13.2 at 10 treatments, 10.9 at 20 treatments and 9.5 at 30 treatments. Th17 levels after excimer therapy were not significantly different from those at baseline. In contrast, Treg levels after excimer therapy were significantly higher than those at baseline.
Journal of Dermatological Treatment · 1992 · 1 citations
The treatment of chronic palmoplantar pustulosis: a review and report of a retrospective study
AbstractRecent studies on the treatment of idiopathic palmoplantar pustulosis are reviewed. The results obtained in 100 of our own patients seen in the last 12 years are also evaluated. Of the 71 patients who were available for follow-up, 55 were treated with a strong topical steroid under plastic occlusion. Two-thirds had excellent to good results after 2 to 16 weeks, but relapses were not prevented. (J Dermatol Treat (1992)3: 63–66)
International Journal of Dermatology and Venereology · 2013 · 0 citations
Pathogenetic factors of palmoplantar pustulosis
AbstractPalmoplantar pustulosis is a chronic,recurrent and inflammatory skin disorder of unclear etiology.Clinically,it is characterized by periodic appearance of crops of small aseptic pustules that arise from an erythematous base and is complicated by keratinization and desquamation.It often occurs in women aged 30 to 50 years.Recently,with the increase in the incidence of palmoplantar pustulosis,a series of basic experiments and clinical trials have been carried out on its etiology.The authors summarize the relationship of palmoplantar pustulosis with immunity,smoking,sensitizing metals,plasma calcium,and infection.
Key words:
Palmoplantar pustulosis; Causality
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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