DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for primary angle closure glaucoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 14-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease modulePrimary angle closure glaucoma maps to a 14-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 primary angle closure glaucoma 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
FERM domain containing kindlin 2 (FERMT2) — FERMT2 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 srtdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 4F7H · 1.9 Å · ligand S,R MESO-TARTARIC ACID (SRT). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A population-based cross-sectional study in Germany examined 3014 subjects (mean age 58.6 years, 48% female) and found a mean anterior chamber angle width of 32.6° ± 5.5°. Smaller angle width was independently associated with female sex, higher age, more hyperopic refraction, shallow anterior chamber depth, shorter axial length, higher central corneal thickness, and lower corneal power. These are considered risk factors for angle-closure glaucoma.
A 2006 Cochrane review found no published evidence supporting the efficacy of lens extraction in chronic primary angle closure glaucoma, though more recent randomised controlled trials have suggested greater promise. A 2017 review notes that surgical management of angle-closure glaucoma remains integral to patient care, but that there are few objective lines of evidence to support the effectiveness of the different surgical treatment options, and the distinctive anatomy of angle-closure eyes presents a challenge to surgeons.
A 2022 review of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) in the combined treatment of primary angle-closure glaucoma states that MIGS may become one of the preferred surgical treatments for PACG in future clinical management. The review does not provide survival or response rate data from specific trials. An earlier 1991 paper notes that chronic and secondary forms of angle-closure glaucoma are often more difficult to diagnose and treat than primary acute angle-closure glaucoma.
A 2011 paper on TNF-alpha and TNF-beta gene polymorphisms in primary open angle and primary angle closure glaucoma provides general background on glaucoma classification and epidemiology but does not report any specific results linking these polymorphisms to angle-closure glaucoma outcomes. What is still missing are adequately powered randomised controlled trials comparing MIGS, lens extraction, and conventional surgery in defined patient subgroups, with long-term visual field and intraocular pressure endpoints, and sufficient funding to stratify by the anatomical risk factors identified in population studies.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Distribution of Anterior Chamber Angle Width and Correlation With Age, Refraction, and Anterior Chamber Depth—The Gutenberg Health Study
AbstractPURPOSE: Scheimpflug imaging allows quantitative analysis of the width of the anterior chamber angle. We report the population-based distribution of the anterior chamber angle width using this noncontact imaging technique and investigate associated factors. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Germany. A comprehensive ophthalmologic examination including refraction, biometry, and Scheimpflug imaging was performed. Automated measurement of the anterior chamber angle was performed in each anterior chamber quadrant. Exclusion criteria were previous ocular surgery or inadequate image quality. Association analyses were carried out to determine independently associated systemic and ocular factors for anterior chamber angle width using a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS: A total of 3014 subjects (48% female) with a mean age of 58.6 ± 10.4 years were included in this study. The mean anterior chamber angle width was 32.6° ± 5.5°. Statistical analysis revealed an independent association between a smaller anterior chamber angle and female sex, higher age, and more hyperopic refraction. When including biometric parameters, shallow anterior chamber depth, shorter axial length, higher central corneal thickness, and lower corneal power were independently associated with a narrower mean anterior chamber angle width. CONCLUSIONS: These parameters are considered risk factors for angle-closure glaucoma.
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology · 2010 · 20 citations
Role of clear lens extraction in adult angle closure disease: a review
AbstractTreatments for angle closure include eye drops, laser procedures, trabeculectomy and other drainage procedures, and now lens extraction. A 2006 Cochrane review of the role of lens extraction in angle closure disease concluded that there was no published evidence supporting the efficacy of lens extraction in chronic primary angle closure glaucoma. More recent randomized controlled trials have suggested greater promise. We wish to address the rationale, evidence base and philosophy for lens extraction - especially clear lens extraction - in preventing vision loss from glaucoma in angle closure disease.
Developments in ophthalmology · 2017 · 8 citations
Surgical Treatment of Angle-Closure Glaucoma
AbstractAdvances in anterior segment imaging modalities have contributed new insights towards a better understanding of the various mechanisms of angle-closure glaucoma (ACG). This development is key to good decision making when confronted with angle-closure patients needing appropriate therapy. Surgical management of ACG remains an integral part of glaucoma patient care. The distinctive anatomy of angle-closure eyes and the few objective lines of evidence to support the effectiveness of the different surgical treatment options present a challenge to glaucoma surgeons.
Association of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta Gene Polymorphisms with Primary Open Angle and Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma
AbstractGlaucoma is a complex disease that comprises a group of heterogeneous optic neuropathies characterized by a progressive degeneration of the optic nerve head and visual field defects. It starts with unnoticeable blind spots at the edges of field vision progressing to the tunnel vision and finally leading to blindness The disease process is insidious, and the central vision is usually not lost until the disease is advanced, a significant proportion of individuals remain either undiagnosed or undertreated. The most common forms of glaucoma are age-related, generally beginning in midlife and progressing slowly but relentlessly as the age advances (A.T.G.S.R.S.G., 2009). If detected early enough, disease progression can be slowed with drug and/or surgical treatment, emphasizing the importance of identifying the disease in its earliest stages. Glaucoma is broadly classified into primary and secondary glaucoma based on their etiology and aqueous humor dynamics Based on anatomy of the anterior chamber (gonioscopy), primary glaucomas are further classified as primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG). Depending on the time of onset, glaucoma is also termed as infantile, juvenile and adult type. Rarely glaucoma may be found in babies at birth this form of glaucoma called congenital glaucoma. Secondary glaucomas are characterized by the involvement of predisposing ocular or systemic diseases such as uveitis, trauma, or diabetes thereby resulting in an alteration of aqueous humor dynamics. Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (XFG) and pigmentary glaucoma (PG) are the most frequently reported type of secondary glaucoma Glaucoma affects 70 million people and is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. It is estimated that by the year 2020, this number would rise to around 79.6 million The prevalence of glaucoma varies widely across the different ethnic groups (He et al.,
Current Opinion in Ophthalmology · 1991 · 3 citations
Angle-closure glaucoma
AbstractAngle-closure glaucoma can be present within a spectrum of signs and symptoms and can occur in many situations. Primary acute angle-closure glaucoma may be more readily diagnosed because of its classical presentation. The chronic and secondary forms are often more difficult to diagnose and treat. Only if a careful, methodical examination is performed will the atypical forms of this disease be detected. This paper outlines the characteristics and pathophysiology of primary angle-closure glaucoma and also summarizes reports of this past year which have added to our knowledge. Reports which focus on the secondary forms of this disease are most enlightening. Newer treatment modalities are also described. Current Opinion in Ophthalmology 1991, 2:133-139
[Advances of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery in the combined treatment of primary angle-closure glaucoma].
AbstractGlaucoma is the leading irreversible blinding eye disease worldwide, and China has the largest amount of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). To reduce blindness, the therapeutic evolution can play a role. With the technical development of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), the treatment of angle-closure glaucoma has been in a transformation. This article reviews the literatures related to the advances of MIGS in the combined treatment of PACG. The research findings show that MIGS may become one of the preferred surgical treatments for PACG in the future clinical management of glaucoma.
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.
