DeCure's autonomous Dermatology AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for rosacea — screening already-approved drugs against its 42-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleRosacea maps to a 42-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 rosacea 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
legumain (LGMN) — LGMN 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…
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RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 7FQI · 1.45 Å · ligand N-[(2R)-4-amino-1-imino-4-oxobutan-2-yl]-1-(1-{4-[(2,4-difluorophenyl)methoxy]phenyl}cyclopropane-1-carbonyl)-L-prolinamide (WSN). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2005 Cochrane review of twenty-nine randomised controlled trials found the evidence for rosacea treatments was generally weak because of poor methodology and reporting. No study assessed quality of life. Pooled data from two trials involving 174 participants showed topical metronidazole was more effective than placebo (odds ratio 5.96, 95% confidence interval 2.95 to 12.06). Data pooled from three between-patient trials of azelaic acid showed treatment success rates of approximately 70 to 80% versus 50 to 55% in controls (odds ratio 2.45, 95% CI 1.82 to 3.28). Pooled data from three studies of oral tetracycline versus placebo involving 152 participants showed physicians judged tetracycline effective (odds ratio 6.06, 95% CI 2.96 to 12.42). One small study provided some evidence of efficacy for oral metronidazole. The review concluded there was insufficient evidence concerning the effectiveness of other treatments.
A 2001 review noted that rosacea begins in genetically susceptible individuals in response to various exposures, and that no specific cause or laboratory indicator had been identified. A 2016 review listed newer agents including brimonidine, ivermectin cream 1%, azelaic acid foam 15%, and tetracycline-type antibiotics that affect the cathelicidin pathway. Another 2016 article gave an overview of topical metronidazole’s mechanism of action, adverse effects, and alternatives. A 2022 review stated that numerous therapeutic options achieve satisfactory responses for facial erythema, the main characteristic of rosacea.
A 2023 review called for global research to develop a modern comprehensive study of rosacea, including its pathogenesis, risk factors, and association with concomitant diseases, and stressed the importance of studies in various populations with detailed clinical data and longer follow-up. A 2024 review reported that up to one-fifth of patients in GP surgeries have skin diseases, that rosacea prevalence is around 10%, and that the results of pharmacological treatment are often unsatisfactory. It noted that successful treatment involves correct diagnosis, choosing an appropriate approach guided by symptom severity and psychological impact, and reducing provocative factors.
What is still missing are large, well-designed randomised controlled trials that assess quality of life, studies with longer follow-up in diverse populations, and a clearer understanding of the relationship between rosacea subtypes and concomitant diseases. The 2024 review’s plain statement that pharmacological results are often unsatisfactory underscores the gap between available options and reliable, lasting control.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery · 2001 · 71 citations
Rosacea: Current thoughts on origin
AbstractRosacea is a clinical pattern beginning and evolving in the genetically susceptible individual in response to a host of exposures. It produces a variety of clinical presentations, which vary over time and with age. Recently, many specific mediators of rosacea development have been described. A primary genetic cause for rosacea is suggested as single genes often control such mediators: enzymes, neuroendocrine transmitters, and cytokines are found in pathways to rosacea signs and symptoms. Currently, neither a specific cause nor a laboratory indicator of rosacea has been suggested. However, broadening interest in rosacea portends future increase in knowledge.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2005 · 29 citations
Interventions for rosacea
AbstractBACKGROUND: Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition affecting the face, characterised by flushing, redness, pimples, pustules, and dilated blood vessels. The eyes are often involved. Frequently it can be controlled, but it is not clear which treatments are most effective. OBJECTIVES: To assess the evidence for the efficacy and safety of treatments for rosacea. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Skin Group Specialised Register (February 2005), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to February 2005), EMBASE (1980 to February 2005), BIOSIS (1970 to March 2002) and the Science Citation Index (1988 to February 2005). Reference lists of trials and key review articles were searched. Relevant manufacturers and experts were contacted. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials in people with moderate to severe rosacea were included. Studies judged by the authors to have seriously flawed methodology were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Study selection, assessment of methodological quality, data extraction and analysis were carried out by two independent authors. Disagreements were resolved by discussion and consensus. MAIN RESULTS: The evidence provided by twenty-nine included studies was generally weak because of poor methodology and reporting. One of our primary outcome measures, 'quality of life', was not assessed in any of the studies. Only two studies of ocular rosacea were included. Pooled data from two trials involving 174 participants indicated that according to the participants, topical metronidazole is more effective than placebo (odds ratio (OR) 5.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.95 to 12.06). Data pooled from three between-patient trials showed a clear improvement in the azelaic acid group; the rates of treatment success were approximately 70 to 80% versus 50% to 55% (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.82 to 3.28). A within-patient trial of azelaic cream versus placebo could not be pooled with the other three studies, but also showed good evidence of efficacy. Data pooled from three studies of oral tetracycline versus placebo involving 152 participants showed that, according to physicians, tetracycline was effective (OR 6.06, 95% CI 2.96 to 12.42). Some evidence of efficacy of oral metronidazole was provided by one small study. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The quality of studies evaluating rosacea treatments was generally poor. There is evidence that topical metronidazole and azelaic acid are effective. There is some evidence that oral metronidazole and tetracycline are effective. There is insufficient evidence concerning the effectiveness of other treatments. Good RCTs looking at these treatments are urgently needed.
Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery · 2016 · 2 citations
Facial Dermatitis and Rosacea
AbstractRosacea is a chronic skin disorder associated with flushing, erythema, dryness, burning and stinging, and inflammatory papules and pustules. New treatments available or in development target the inflammatory and erythematous components of the disease. These agents include the selective α2 receptor agonist brimonidine, the topical agents ivermectin cream 1% and azelaic acid foam 15%, and use of tetracyclinetype antibiotics, which affect the cathelicidin pathway. Semin Cutan Med Surg 35(supp6):S107-S109.
Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association · 2016 · 2 citations
Topical Metronidazole in the Management of Rosacea
AbstractABSTRACT By definition, a drug is a medicine or substance that exerts a physiologic effect on an organism. In dermatology, medications and substances are utilized on a daily basis from topical treatments to anesthetics in micrographic surgery. The purpose of this section is to focus on some of the more common substances, specifically how they work, how they are utilized, and routine alternatives (if available). This article gives an overview of rosacea and discusses the role of topical metronidazole in the management of rosacea as well as details the mechanism of action, adverse effects, and alternative treatments.
International Journal of Dermatology and Venereology · 2022 · 2 citations · open access
Advances in the Treatment of Rosacea-Associated Facial Erythema
AbstractFacial erythema is the main characteristic of rosacea. It has a negative impact on quality of life. The two forms of rosacea-associated erythema are inflammatory erythema and non-inflammatory erythema. There are numerous therapeutic options available that achieve satisfactory responses. This review summarizes the latest advances in the treatment of rosacea-related erythema and concludes the treatment of two forms of them.
Problems of Social Hygiene Public Health and History of Medicine · 2023 · 0 citations
Comorbidity of rosacea and various pathological conditions among the population of the countries of the world, accounting for treatment and preventive measures
AbstractCurrently, there is an urgent need for global research to develop a modern comprehensive study of rosacea, including its pathogenesis, risk factors, association of rosacea subtypes with concomitant diseases. The most relevant research studies the role of immunity and microorganisms in the pathogenesis of rosacea. To elucidate the features of the comorbidity of rosacea and somatic diseases, studies in various populations with detailed clinical data and a longer follow-up period are important. At the same time, it is important to understand the relationship between the severity and severity of various clinical symptoms of rosacea, the mechanisms that regulate the progression of the process, the combination of rosacea subtypes and the course of the disease in association with other forms of pathological disorders.
AbstractCurrent pharmacotherapy of rosacea Up to one-fifth of patients in GP surgeries have skin diseases. One of the most serious is rosacea, which can significantly reduce quality of life and increase the incidence of psychosocial disorders (depression, anxiety, social isolation) in patients with this disease. The prevalence of the disease is reported to be around 10 %. Successful dermatological treatment of rosacea is a complex process involving a correct diagnostic assessment, choosing an appropriate therapeutic approach for the patient. It is mainly guided by the severity of symptoms, the psychological impact on the patient and the compliance to treatment. Primarily, provocative factors should be reduced, and dermocosmetics available in the pharmacy can be used as a supportive and complementary treatment. The results of pharmacological treatment are often unsatisfactory.
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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