DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for punctate palmoplantar keratoderma — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease modulePunctate palmoplantar keratoderma maps to a 1-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 punctate palmoplantar keratoderma 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.
What the evidence adds up to
Punctate palmoplantar keratoderma is a rare disorder of keratinisation. A 2009 review of published reports identified only one case similar to the one described in that paper, characterised by diffuse involvement of the palms and soles with pinpoint keratotic plugs and pits that were histologically identical to the cornoid lamellae seen in porokeratotic conditions. The authors argued that the clinical and histologic features set this form apart from other punctate keratodermas.
A 2017 article presented two cases of focal acral hyperkeratosis, a subtype of punctate palmoplantar keratoderma, and reviewed the literature. The authors stated that despite prior clinical and histologic discussion, the nosography and classification of punctate palmoplantar keratodermas have been confused in published literature. They aimed to clarify terminology and classification, hoping that increased awareness would advance treatment options, but no specific treatment data were provided.
A 2019 review of hereditary palmoplantar keratoderma in general noted wide genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, making accurate diagnosis based solely on clinical features challenging without molecular studies. The review emphasised that recognising clinical patterns, extent of involvement, degree of mutilation, and associated systemic involvement can help delineate different forms. It stated that molecular studies, despite high cost, are imperative for accurate classification, genetic counselling, and management.
No clinical trial data, response rates, or survival figures exist for punctate palmoplantar keratoderma in these abstracts. What is missing is any funded trial of a specific drug, a clear molecular classification that could stratify patients, and the financial resources needed to conduct such studies in a condition that is both rare and poorly understood.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Dermatologica · 2009 · 64 citations
Punctate Porokeratotic Keratoderma
AbstractExtensive review of published reports of punctate keratoderma has revealed only one similar case to that reported in the present paper. This represents a diffuse involvement of the palms and soles with pinpoint keratotic plugs and pits which were proven to be parakeratotic columns histologically identical with the cornoid lamellae of porokeratotic conditions. The clinical and histologic features which set this form of keratoderma apart from other forms of punctate keratoderma are discussed.
Indian Dermatology Online Journal · 2019 · 42 citations · open access
Hereditary palmoplantar keratoderma: A practical approach to the diagnosis
Abstractor as a feature of several dermatological or systemic diseases. There is a wide genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in hereditary PPK, due to which reaching an accurate diagnosis only on the basis of clinical features may be sometimes challenging for the clinicians in the absence of molecular studies. Nevertheless, recognizing the clinical patterns of keratoderma, extent of involvement, degree of mutilation, and associated appendageal and systemic involvement may help in delineating different forms. Molecular studies, despite high cost, are imperative for accurate classification, recognizing clinical patterns in resource poor settings is important for appropriate diagnosis, genetic counseling, and management. This review intends to develop a practical approach for clinical diagnosis of different types of hereditary PPK with reasonable accuracy.
Dermatology and Dermatitis · 2017 · 0 citations · open access
A Unique Type of Hereditary Punctate Palmoplantar Keratodermas
AbstractKeratodermas encompass a wide spectrum of disorders of keratinization that may be acquired or hereditary. We present two cases of focal acral hyperkeratosis (FAH), a subtype of punctate palmoplantar keratoderma. We review the literature and attempt to clarify the confusing classification of the heritable punctate palmoplantar keratodermas. Capsule Summary 1. (First bullet) what is already known on this topic a. Punctate PPK is an esoteric topic within the field of dermatology that has been discussed both clinically and histologically. 2. (Second bullet) what this article adds to our knowledge a. Despite this, the nosography and classification of punctate PPKs have been confused in published literature. 3. (Third bullet) How this information impacts clinical practice and/or changes patient care a. This article hopes to clarify the terminology and classification of punctate PPKs, thereby increasing awareness of this disease, with the hope of advancing treatment options.
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.
