DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for pharyngitis — screening already-approved drugs against its 30-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease modulePharyngitis maps to a 30-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 pharyngitis 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…
helix sheet rdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
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
A retrospective cohort of 140 chronic pharyngitis patients in Turkey found that 82% had iron deficiency, 78% had low ferritin, 70% had vitamin B12 deficiency, 91% had vitamin D deficiency, 49% had folic acid deficiency, 42% had elevated HbA1c, and 32% had high IgE. After a multidisciplinary intervention that included dietary changes, reflux management, nasal obstruction correction, allergy treatment, and standard pharmacotherapy, the Sore Throat Quality of Life score rose from a baseline of 22.2 to 57.9 at 30 days, 77.1 at 60 days, and 93.5 at 90 days. All comparisons were reported as p < 0.05.
A prospective study of 171 pharyngitis patients at a Vietnamese hospital reported that 68.5% had chronic pharyngitis and 29.8% had acute pharyngitis. The most common associated factor was sinusitis (37.4%). Treatment results showed recovery in 46.2% of all patients, reduction in 50.3%, and no recovery in 3.5%. Recovery was highest in acute pharyngitis (92.2%) and in chronic pharyngitis when favourable factors were simultaneously treated (70.5%). Average disease duration for chronic pharyngitis was 4.1 years.
A 2014 review article argued that pharyngitis is primarily viral, with influenza A and rhinoviruses most often involved, and that secondary bacterial invasion causes most symptoms. The review noted that no topical antiviral drugs were available before 2012, that anti-influenza vaccination remains the best preventive measure, and that intracellular virus inhibitors have not been very effective once throat infection is established. It described a concept of non-specific topical virus glycoprotein inhibitors in a hyperosmotic glycerol solution, but provided no patient data or clinical results.
What is still missing: no randomised controlled trials of the multidisciplinary approach, no data on which component of the intervention drove the quality-of-life improvement, no replication of the Turkish cohort in other populations, and no clinical evidence for the proposed topical glycoprotein inhibitors. The Vietnamese study did not report blinding or comparator groups. Patient stratification by underlying deficiency or infection type remains unaddressed.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Pain Management · 2018 · 15 citations
Qualities of Sore Throat Index (QuaSTI): Measuring Descriptors of Sore Throat in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
AbstractAIM: Patients with pharyngitis often describe various sensory, affective and evaluative pain qualities. Using an 11-word/phrase index, the Qualities of Sore Throat Index (QuaSTI), we characterized throat symptoms and evaluated changes in a randomized controlled trial (NCT01986361). MATERIALS & METHODS: Patients received a single flurbiprofen 8.75 mg (n = 101) or placebo (n = 21) lozenge and rated throat soreness at baseline and regular intervals over 3 h, and the QuaSTI at baseline, 1, 2 and 3 h post-treatment. RESULTS: The QuaSTI distinguished active drug from placebo and detected clinically important (≥2-point) changes over 3 h. Mean change from baseline over 3 h was significantly greater for flurbiprofen (154%) than placebo (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The QuaSTI is a sensitive instrument for measuring therapeutic effects in patients with pharyngitis.
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy · 2005 · 3 citations
The appropriate management of pharyngitis in children and adults
AbstractAcute pharyngitis, or the complaint of a sore throat, is one of the most common illnesses for which both adult and pediatric patients seek medical care from primary care physicians. In the USA, acute pharyngitis accounts for 1-2% of all visits to outpatient departments, physician offices and emergency departments. There are multiple etiologic agents that can cause pharyngitis, and strategies for diagnosis and treatment should be directed at identifying those causes of pharyngitis that require antimicrobial therapy. In some cases, the decision as to which patients to treat with antibiotics remains difficult. This article reviews some of the various causes of pharyngitis and the available therapeutic options.
Evaluating the Efficacy of a Multidisciplinary Approach to Chronic Pharyngitis Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis
AbstractBACKGROUND: Chronic pharyngitis (CP) presents a significant burden on patients' quality of life (QoL), often requiring comprehensive management strategies beyond conventional treatment modalities. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a multidisciplinary approach to CP treatment and its impact on patients' QoL. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 140 patients diagnosed with CP who were treated at the ENT outpatient clinic of Private Mersin Su Hospital, Mersin, Türkiye, between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023. Our treatment approach integrated dietary modifications, management of gastroesophageal reflux, nasal obstruction correction, and allergy management alongside standard pharmacotherapy. The primary outcome measure was the improvement in the Sore Throat QoL Scale (STQoL) scores, assessed at baseline, 30, 60, and 90 days post treatment. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 140 chronic pharyngitis patients, including 82 male (58.57%) and 58 female (41.43%) patients, with a mean age of 42.2 ± 6.3 years. Laboratory tests revealed that 115 patients (82.14%) had iron deficiency with a mean serum level of 61.2 mg/dL (reference range: 70-180 mg/dL), while 109 patients (77.85%) had low ferritin levels (mean 55.3 mcg/L; reference range: 50-150 mcg/L). In addition, 98 patients (70.00%) showed vitamin B12 deficiency, averaging 223.6 pg/mL (reference range: 350-900 pg/mL), 128 patients (91.42%) had vitamin D deficiency, with a mean value of 29.3 ng/mL (reference range: 40-100 ng/mL), and 68 patients (48.57%) demonstrated folic acid deficiency, with an average of 6.9 ng/mL (reference range: 6-17 ng/mL). Moreover, elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were observed in 59 patients (42.14%) (mean 6.1%, target: 4-5.6%), and 45 patients (32.14%) had high serum total immunoglobulin E (mean 95.4 mg/dL; normal range: 20-100 mg/dL). Patient-reported outcomes using the STQoL improved markedly from a baseline score of 22.2 ± 3.2 to 57.9 ± 8.2 on day 30, 77.1 ± 13.6 on day 60, and 93.5 ± 17.3 on day 90 (all comparisons p < 0.05), indicating significant enhancement in QoL over the treatment period. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that a multidisciplinary approach to CP treatment, addressing both the symptoms and the underlying causes, significantly improves patients' QoL. This study underscores the importance of adopting comprehensive, patient-centered treatment strategies in managing chronic pharyngitis, warranting further research into optimizing care for this common condition.
Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy · 2015 · 0 citations
RESEARCH ON CLINICAL FEATURES AND TREATMENT RESULT OF PHARYNGITIS AT HUE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
AbstractBackground: To study on types, favorable factors, clinical characteristics and treatment result of pharyngitis to early diagnose, properly treat and prevent complications of pharyngitis. Patients and method: 171 patients with pharyngitis were studied by prospective and descriptive study with clinical interventions. Results: Age group from 16 - 30 occupied the highest rate 52.1%. Sex ratio male/female as 1/1.3. Acute pharyngitis 29.8%, chronic pharyngitis 68.5%. The most common favorable factor was sinusitis 37.4%. Common reason for visit was odynophagia 59.1%. Average disease duration of acute type was 6.9 ± 6.6 days, of chronic type was 4.1 ± 3.0 years. Fever showed rate 31.6%. Functional symptoms of pharyngitis including dysphagia 89.4%, odynophagia 73.1%, cough 40.9%, sputum 32.2%, itchy throat 28.7%. Common physical symptoms were red throat mucosa 71.3%, chronic lesions of throat mucosa 66.9%. Complication was otitis media 5.2%, broncho-tracheo-laryngitis 0.7%. Treatment results: recovery 46.2%, reduce disease 50.3%, no recovery 3.5%. Recovery showed the highest rate in acute pharyngitis (92.2%) and in chronic pharyngitis whose favorable factors were simultaneously treated (70.5%). Conclusions: Pharyngitis occurred the most frequently in young people, male and female sex. The most common type of pharyngitis was chronic. Recovery rate of acute pharyngitis was higher than chronic pharyngitis. Treatment of favorable factors made increase the recovery rate of chronic pharyngitis. Key words: Pharyngitis
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research · 2014 · 0 citations · open access
INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC CONCEPT OF TOPICAL VIRUS GLYCOPROTEIN INHIBITORS INCORPORATED IN HYPEROSMOTIC GLYCEROL REVOLUTIONIZES FUTURE PROSPECTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VIRAL AND BACTERIAL THROAT INFECTIONS
AbstractPharyngitis is primarily a viral infection of the respiratory tract, followed by secondary bacterial invasion due to weakening of local defenses. Influenza A and rhinoviruses are principally involved, the influenza virus having much higher pathogenicity, however, than rhinoviruses which usually cause the common cough and cold without severe damage to the respiratory mucosa. Following initial infection, the virus enters the cells only for multiplication and almost all virulent virus particles subsequently produced are shed onto the throat surface. From the throat surface, the virions infect new healthy cells, damaging the throat mucosa, and creating a favorable ground for secondary bacterial colonization which is the cause of almost all symptoms of throat infection (sore throat, strep throat). The virus’ complex structure, its constant mutation, the variety of its surface glycoproteins, as well as the role of topical proteases helping virus entry and virus – bacteria symbiosis must all be taken into account in designing an effective treatment, acting on multiple parameters. As most viruses and all bacteria are present on the throat’s outer lining, treatment should be designed to act topically on the surface of the pharynx, which also minimizes side effects. Until 2012, no topical antiviral drugs were available and almost all treatment strategies were directed to relieve only the symptomatic manifestations of throat infections. Anti-influenza vaccination is still considered the best preventive measure, while the use of intracellular virus inhibitors is strictly limited to severe cases as they were not found to be very effective once throat infection is established. The recent development of non-specific topical virus glycoprotein inhibitors, incorporated in a filmogen glycerol solution for an increased duration of action, represents a breakthrough yet relatively simple scientific approach for the treatment of viral throat infections accompanied by secondary bacterial infection. In this review, we analyze the whole process of viral throat infection, virus – bacteria interactions on the throat surface, currently available treatments and their drawbacks, and this innovative therapeutic approach consisting in virus glycoprotein inhibitors in an osmotic solution, destined to totally change the future treatment of throat infections.
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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