DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for polyarteritis nodosa — screening already-approved drugs against its 28-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease modulePolyarteritis nodosa maps to a 28-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 polyarteritis nodosa 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
UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 2 member B15 (UGT2B15) — UGT2B15 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 +drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6IPB · 1.78 Å · ligand L(+)-TARTARIC ACID (TLA). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2016 case report describes one patient with refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa who had already failed three immunosuppressive therapies and three different biological agents. He received two rituximab 1000 mg infusions and was reported to have good efficacy and tolerance. This is a single patient, with no control, and the subtype is cutaneous, which lacks significant internal organ involvement.
A 1962 review states that no specific therapy was available for classic polyarteritis nodosa at that time, though the effect of corticosteroids was noted as being of great interest. A 2013 case report describes an 88-year-old woman with polyarteritis nodosa involving the hard palate, whose lesion regressed completely one year after pharmacological treatment; the report does not name the drugs used. A 2005 report describes a 2-year-old child who presented with a leg mass; biopsy confirmed polyarteritis nodosa, and X-rays showed a periosteal reaction.
No controlled trial data are presented in any of these abstracts. The 2016 rituximab report is a single uncontrolled case. The 1962 review predates modern immunosuppression. The 2013 and 2005 reports do not specify which drugs were given. What is missing is any randomised trial, any comparison against standard therapy, any data on long-term outcomes beyond one year, and any evidence that rituximab or any other agent works in systemic polyarteritis nodosa with internal organ involvement.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Journal of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery · 2016 · 9 citations · open access
Successful use of combined corticosteroids and rituximab in a patient with refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa
AbstractCutaneous polyarteritis nodosa is a rare subtype of polyarteritis nodosa that lacks significant internal organ involvement. It has a relapsing remitting nature and usually is less responsive to conventional treatments. We report a case of refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa who failed three immunosuppressive therapies and three different biological agents. He was successfully treated with two rituximab 1000 mg infusions with a good efficacy and tolerance. This case demonstrates the safety and efficacy of rituximab in treatment of refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa.
AbstractClassic polyarteritis nodosa, granulomatous angiitis, and vasculitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis are considered from the standpoints of clinical features, diagnosis, pathologic features, and therapy. A satisfactory etiologic basis for the disease has not been established. When the diagnosis is suspected, biopsy of appropriate tissue most readily affords confirmation. Specific therapy is not yet available, but the effect of corticosteroids is of great interest.
Journal of Medical Case Reports · 2013 · 4 citations · open access
Polyarteritis nodosa involving the hard palate: a case report
AbstractINTRODUCTION: Polyarteritis nodosa is a rare disease resulting from blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis), causing damage to organ systems and featuring an extended range of possible symptoms. The cause of polyarteritis nodosa is unknown. CASE PRESENTATION: In the present report we describe the presentation and treatment of polyarteritis nodosa involving the hard palate in an 88-year-old Caucasian woman. Clinical and laboratory analyses showed stenosis of the greater palatine artery, which led to necrosis of the affected area. At one year after pharmacological treatment, the lesion has regressed completely. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully treated a case of polyarteritis nodosa via a pharmacological approach, which we describe here.
AbstractUNLABELLED: We report an unusual presentation of polyarteritis nodosa in a 2-y-old child. The child presented with a mass of the left leg adjacent to the calf, and the biopsy showed polyarteritis nodosa. Further investigations confirmed systemic features, and X-rays showed a periosteal reaction. CONCLUSION: Childhood polyarteritis nodosa may present with a lower limb inflammatory mass.
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.
