DeCure's autonomous Neuro AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Parkinson disease — screening already-approved drugs against its 40-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleParkinson disease maps to a 40-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
approvedRopiniroleD2-like dopamine receptor agonistapprovedSafinamideMonoamine oxidase B inhibitor
Structures already discussed alongside parkinson disease in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
Structure of human MAO B — Safinamide has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 2V5Z, 1.6 Å). This is the drug's own deposited structure, not a prediction, and confirms it is a structurally characterised molecule rather than an untested guess.
Loading structure…
helix sheet sagdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 2V5Z · 1.6 Å · ligand Safinamide (SAG). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a 24-week double-blind trial of 393 patients with Parkinson disease and motor fluctuations, ropinirole 24-hour prolonged release as an adjunct to levodopa produced a mean reduction in daily off time of 2.1 hours compared with 0.3 hours on placebo. The mean dose was 18.8 mg/day and daily levodopa was reduced by 278 mg. Secondary measures including on time without troublesome dyskinesia, UPDRS motor and activities of daily living subscales, Beck Depression Inventory-II, PDQ-39 subscales, and PD Sleep Scale all improved. Adverse events included dyskinesia, nausea, dizziness, somnolence, hallucinations, and orthostatic hypotension; 5% of each group withdrew due to adverse events.
A non-inferiority crossover study in 161 patients with early Parkinson disease compared once-daily ropinirole 24-hour prolonged release with three-times-daily immediate release. The adjusted mean difference in UPDRS motor score was -0.7 (95% CI -1.51 to 0.10), with the upper confidence limit below the predefined non-inferiority threshold of 3 points. Both formulations showed similar efficacy during maintenance periods. The prolonged release formulation was titrated more rapidly and tolerated well, and overnight switching between formulations was also well tolerated.
A 12-month extension of a placebo-controlled study in early Parkinson disease found that 44.0% of ropinirole-treated patients (51 of 116) completed the study without requiring supplemental levodopa, compared with 22.4% of placebo patients (28 of 125). Fewer ropinirole patients met criteria for insufficient therapeutic response (19.8% vs 48%) or required levodopa initiation (19% vs 45.6%). The incidence of adverse events and withdrawals was low.
A review of 36 Spanish reports covering around 2000 patients treated with safinamide, a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor approved in Europe in 2015, confirmed safety and efficacy results from earlier placebo-controlled trials. The reports described significant improvement in motor and non-motor fluctuations and allowed levodopa dose reduction. The same review noted that strict inclusion criteria of earlier trials meant not all clinical populations were represented, making observational data important.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Neurology · 2007 · 288 citations
Ropinirole 24-hour prolonged release
AbstractOBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of ropinirole 24-hour prolonged release (ropinirole 24-hour) as an adjunct to levodopa in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) and motor fluctuations. METHODS: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 24-week study, 393 subjects with PD were randomized to ropinirole 24-hour (n = 202) or placebo (n = 191). The primary outcome measure was reduction in hours of daily "off" time. RESULTS: At week 24, the mean dose of ropinirole 24-hour was 18.8 mg/day with a mean reduction in daily levodopa of 278 mg. There was a mean reduction in daily "off" time of 2.1 hours in the ropinirole 24-hour group and 0.3 hours with placebo. Secondary outcome measures including change in hours and percent of daily "on" time and "on" time without troublesome dyskinesia, Unified PD Rating Scale motor and activities of daily living subscales, Beck Depression Inventory-II, PDQ-39 subscales of mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, stigma and communication, and PD Sleep Scale were significantly improved at week 24 with ropinirole 24-hour. The most common adverse events (AE) with ropinirole 24-hour were dyskinesia, nausea, dizziness, somnolence, hallucinations, and orthostatic hypotension and AEs led to study withdrawal in 5% of both the active and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: Ropinirole 24-hour was effective and well tolerated as adjunct therapy in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) not optimally controlled with levodopa. Ropinirole 24-hour demonstrated an improvement in both motor and non-motor PD symptoms, while permitting a reduction in adjunctive levodopa dose.
Current Medical Research and Opinion · 2008 · 100 citations
Ropinirole 24-hour prolonged release and ropinirole immediate release in early Parkinson's disease: a randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority crossover study
AbstractOBJECTIVE: This study compares once-daily ropinirole 24-h prolonged release and three-times-daily ropinirole immediate release in patients with early Parkinson's disease. METHODS: This multicentre, double-blind, non-inferiority crossover study involved 161 patients randomized to one of four formulation sequences: (1) immediate release-immediate release-prolonged release; (2) immediate release-prolonged release-prolonged release; (3) prolonged release-prolonged release-immediate release; (4) prolonged release-immediate release-immediate release. During a 12-week dose-titration period, ropinirole immediate release was titrated according to the approved labelling; titration of ropinirole 24-h prolonged release started at a higher dose and was more rapid. Patients then entered three consecutive, flexible-dose, 8-week maintenance periods. At the end of the first maintenance period, half of the patients in each formulation group switched to the same or closest dose of the alternative formulation; remaining patients switched at the end of the second maintenance period. RESULTS: At the end of titration, before the first dose switch, there were substantial reductions in mean Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scores. During maintenance periods, both groups showed similar efficacy on the UPDRS motor score. Overall mean (standard error) change from period baseline was -0.1 (0.28) for ropinirole 24-h prolonged release, and 0.6 (0.30) for ropinirole immediate release (adjusted mean treatment difference -0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.51, 0.10; p = 0.0842). The upper limit of the 95% CI was less than the predefined threshold of 3 points for non-inferiority. Ropinirole 24-h prolonged release was well-tolerated when titrated more rapidly than ropinirole immediate release; overnight switching between formulations was also well-tolerated. Study limitations included complexity of the non-inferiority study design and the forced dose-titration schedule. CONCLUSION: Ropinirole 24-h prolonged release was effective and well-tolerated in patients with early Parkinson's disease.
Ropinirole for the Treatment of Early Parkinson Disease: A 12-Month Experience
AbstractOBJECTIVE: To evaluate ropinirole hydrochloride as dopaminergic monotherapy in patients with early Parkinson disease. DESIGN: A 6-month extension of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Ambulatory care at 22 different sites in the United States. PATIENTS: Patients who successfully completed the initial 6-month study could enter the 6-month extension study (ropinirole, n = 70; placebo, n = 77). INTERVENTION: Use of ropinirole or placebo therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The efficacy variables were the number of patients who successfully completed the 12-month study and did not require supplemental levodopa, the number of patients requiring supplemental levodopa, and the proportion of patients having an insufficient therapeutic response. RESULTS: Significantly fewer ropinirole-treated patients met criteria for insufficient therapeutic response (23 [19.8%] of 116) or required the initiation of levodopa therapy (22 [19%] of 116) compared with placebo-treated patients (60 [48%] of 125 patients for insufficient therapeutic response; 57 [45.6%] of 125 patients for additional levodopa). Significantly more ropinirole-treated patients (51 [44.0%] of 116) successfully completed the 12-month study and did not require supplemental levodopa compared with placebo-treated patients (28 [22.4%] of 125). The incidence of adverse experiences and patient withdrawals was low. CONCLUSION: Ropinirole was effective and well tolerated as monotherapy for 12 months in patients with early Parkinson disease.
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques · 2003 · 24 citations · open access
Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
AbstractParkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that demands a holistic approach to treatment. Both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions play an important role in the comprehensive management of this disorder. While levodopa remains the single most effective medication for symptomatic treatment, dopamine agonists are playing an increasingly important role. Motor complications of dopaminergic therapy are a significant issue, particularly in patients with more advanced disease who have been on levodopa for several years. All therapeutic interventions must be tailored to the individual and modified as the disease progresses, with the goal of minimizing significant functional disability as much as possible.
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment · 2008 · 23 citations · open access
Update on ropinirole in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
AbstractUpdate on ropinirole in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease Holly A Shill, Mark StacySun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, USA; Duke University and Medical Center, Durham, NC, USAAbstract: Ropinirole is a dopamine agonist, approved for use to treat symptoms of early and advanced Parkinson’s disease, is now available in a 24-hour formulation in addition to the immediate release version. This review discusses the mode of action of ropinirole and compares the pharmacokinetics of both formulations. Pivotal studies leading to the approval of both preparations are reviewed in terms of efficacy, dose range and side effects. Patient factors such as compliance are discussed in terms of the place for ropinirole in the armamentarium of Parkinson’s disease therapies.Keywords: ropinirole extended release, ropinirole immediate release Parkinson’s disease
Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology · 2005 · 8 citations · open access
123-I ioflupane (Datscan®) presynaptic nigrostriatal imaging in patients with movement disorders
Abstract123-I Ioflupane (Datscan®) presynaptic imaging has been shown to have a significant utility in the assessment of patients with movement disorders 123-I Ioflupane SPECT is able to distinguish between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other forms of parkinsonism without degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway, including a common movement disorder such as essential tremor, and to assess disease progression in PD and other neurodegenerative disorders involving the substantia nigra.
Drugs in Context · 2025 · 3 citations · open access
Use of safinamide for treatment of Parkinson disease: real-world data from Spain
AbstractSafinamide is a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor that was approved in Europe in February 2015 to complement a stable dose of levodopa in monotherapy or in combination with other antiparkinsonian agents in adults affected by mid-stage or advanced Parkinson disease (PD) with fluctuations. It is characterized by a dual mechanism of action (dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic), thus enabling an innovative approach in the management of motor and non-motor symptoms. The safety and efficacy profile of safinamide was previously shown in placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials, which demonstrated that ON time could be increased without the onset of dyskinesia and that OFF time could be decreased, with an improvement in PD. However, the strict inclusion and exclusion criteria in these studies meant that not all patients seen in daily clinical practice were represented, hence the importance of observational studies that evaluate the drug in these situations. The objective of the present article was to collect and review reports from Spanish authors presented at national and international conferences on the use of safinamide in patients with PD. We reviewed a total of 36 reports covering around 2000 patients with PD. The reports confirm the safety and efficacy results obtained in clinical trials, showing a significant improvement in motor and non-motor fluctuations and enabling the dose of levodopa to be reduced, thus decreasing the likelihood of motor complications.
Humana Press eBooks · 2003 · 2 citations · open access
Encapsulated Cell Implants as a Novel Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
AbstractParkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNPc). Systemic levodopa therapy has proved to be an effective initial treatment for this disorder. However, resistance to this therapy inevitably develops with time, necessitating other approaches including surgery. Current experimental surgical treatments for this disorder include pallidal stimulation, pallidal lesion, subthalamic stimulation, and dopaminergic cell transplants. The current limitation of these approaches is that they all treat the symptoms but not the cause, that is, the progressive degeneration of the SNPc goes unabated.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Approved indication: ChEMBL drug_indication (max_phase=4). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works, resolved on OpenAlex.
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