DeCure's autonomous Respiratory AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection — screening already-approved drugs against its 7-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleRespiratory Syncytial Virus Infection maps to a 7-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
approvedRibavirinApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside respiratory syncytial virus infection in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase (IMPDH) From Tritrichomonas Foetus — Ribavirin has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 1ME8, 1.9 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 rvpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 1ME8 · 1.9 Å · ligand Ribavirin (RVP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
No small-molecule inhibitor for respiratory syncytial virus had reached clinical use by 2004. The only available treatments at that time were a broad-spectrum antiviral and two immunoprophylactic antibodies, all reserved for high-risk patients. A 2012 review noted that no effective treatment or vaccine existed, though progress had been made in understanding the virus lifecycle and the protein-protein interactions required for viral assembly, which were proposed as potential drug targets.
A 2014 survey of 13 large Midwestern transplant centres found wide variation in how RSV was treated in immunocompromised patients. Among 11 responding centres, 8 used inhaled ribavirin in at least some patient populations, but cited cost, safety, lack of supporting evidence, and inconvenience as barriers. Eight centres used oral ribavirin, and 4 used intravenous immunoglobulin, often in combination with ribavirin. In post-stem cell transplant patients with lower respiratory tract infection, 9 of 11 centres treated with ribavirin; for upper respiratory tract infection, only 5 of 11 did. All 8 centres that performed lung transplantation used oral or inhaled ribavirin for lower respiratory tract infection. No centre routinely treated non-lung solid organ transplant recipients with upper respiratory tract infection. The authors concluded that the heterogeneity demonstrated the need for further studies defining optimal treatment.
A 2015 poster described epidemiologic, clinical, and virologic characteristics of RSV infection among otherwise healthy adults, but no treatment efficacy data were reported. What remains missing are adequately powered, controlled trials that define which patient populations benefit from ribavirin or immunoglobulin, and whether any small-molecule inhibitor or assembly-targeting drug can be brought to clinical testing. No drug repurposing candidate has been validated in a randomised trial for RSV.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy · 2004 · 20 citations
In search of a small-molecule inhibitor for respiratory syncytial virus
AbstractRespiratory syncytial virus has been an ongoing health problem for 50 years. Hospitalization rates due to virus-induced respiratory illness continue to be substantial for infants, small children, the elderly and the immunocompromised. The only currently available treatments are a broad-spectrum antiviral and two immunoprophylactic antibodies, all of which are reserved for high-risk patients. The combination of this limited therapeutic repertoire and the lack of a vaccine clearly demonstrates the need to continue the search for more efficacious and safe agents against respiratory syncytial virus. The following is a review on the current progress of that search.
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets · 2012 · 13 citations
Protein-Protein Interactions in RSV Assembly: Potential Targets for Attenuating RSV Strains
AbstractRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major respiratory pathogen of infants and children worldwide, with no effective treatment or vaccine available. Steady progress has been made in understanding the respiratory syncytial virus lifecycle and the consequences of infection, but some areas of RSV still remain poorly understood. Although many of the interactions between virus proteins that are required for efficient RSV assembly have been elucidated, many questions still remain regarding viral assembly, as well as the mechanisms of RSV budding. This review will summarise the current understanding of RSV assembly, including the various interactions between virus proteins and the involvement of cellular factors with a view to identifying possible attenuation and/or drug targets within the assembly pathway.
Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2014 · 0 citations · open access
429Diagnosis and Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Immunocompromised Hosts in Large Midwestern Transplant Centers
AbstractBackground. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection results in significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. As the optimal management strategy is unknown, practice varies widely between centers. We sought to assess practice variation in large transplant centers participating in the Midwest Respiratory Virus Consortium (MRVC). Methods. A survey assessing center characteristics and treatment strategies was sent to Transplant Infectious Disease (TID) physicians at 13 participating centers. In addition, information regarding treatment of other non-influenza, non-RSV respiratory viral infections was obtained. Results. 11 of 13 centers responded. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for diagnosis in 10/11 centers; one center used rapid antigen testing. 8/11 institutions used inhaled ribavirin (RBV) in at least some patient populations. Reasons cited as barriers against use included cost, safety, lack of supporting evidence, and inconvenience. 8/11 centers used oral RBV and 3 stated a specific preference for oral and 3 a preference for inhaled. 4 of 11 used intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), often in combination with RBV. In the post-stem cell transplant (SCT) population, patients with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) were more likely to be treated than those with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Pre-engraftment allo-SCT recipient with URTI would receive RBV in 5/11 centers while LRTI would be treated with RBV in 9/11 centers. 8 centers performed lung transplantation; all used either oral or inhaled RBV for LRTI, 6/8 for URTI. No center routinely treated non-lung solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with URTI; 7/11 would consider oral or inh RBV in the same group with LRTI. Patients with hematologic malignancy but no HSCT were treated with RBV at a similar frequency (1/11 with URTI, 7/11 with LRTI). 2 of 9 centers in severe cases treated parainfluenza, metapneumovirus or coronavirus with IVIG or RBV. Conclusion. Treatment of RSV in immunocompromised patients varied greatly between institutions. The presence of such heterogeneity demonstrates the need for further studies defining optimal treatment of RSV in immunocompromised hosts. Disclosures. All authors: No reported disclosures.
Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2015 · 0 citations · open access
Epidemiologic, Clinical, and Virologic Characteristics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Among Otherwise Healthy Adults
Abstractwww.PosterPresentations.com Epidemiologic, clinical, and virologic characteristics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection among otherwise healthy adults Anjali Kunz, MD3, Levi Strube, MD3, Christina Schofield, MD3, Tahaniyat N. Lalani MD4,9, Patrick J. Danaher MD5, Michael Rajnik MD6, Leslie Malone MS MB(ASCP)CM8, Elena Grigorenko PhD8, Donald Stalons PhD8, Deepika Mor MS2,9, Michelande Ridore, MS2,9, Wei-Ju Chen, PhD2,9, John C. Arnold MD1, Eugene Millar, PhD2,9, Mary P. Fairchok, MD2,3,9
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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