Rare & Orphan Lab · DeCure for X

DeCure for Sarcoidosis

DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for sarcoidosis — screening already-approved drugs against its 37-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.

Disease module37 genesLead labRare & Orphan
All cures
Rare & OrphanDOID:11335$DeCureRare

The disease map

Disease moduleSarcoidosis maps to a 37-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

approved
ThalidomideApproved drug

Structures already discussed alongside sarcoidosis in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.

Molecular view

Cereblon isoform 4 from Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldenseThalidomide has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 5AMH, 1.2 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 ef2drag to rotate · scroll to zoom

RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 5AMH · 1.2 Å · ligand Thalidomide (EF2). Experimental structure, not a prediction.

What the evidence adds up to

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease with significant morbidity, and treatment aims to recover organ function, reduce symptoms, and improve quality of life. A 2017 prospective study of 21 patients in a public hospital reported a mean follow-up of 38 months. Of these, 10 received steroid treatment and 11 were followed radiologically without treatment. In the steroid group, radiographic regression occurred in 6 cases, while 4 showed no significant change. In the untreated follow-up group, regression occurred in 9 cases, and no significant change was seen in mediastinal lymphadenopathy in 2 cases. Adverse events in the steroid group included one case of steroid-induced myopathy, one case of fungus ball, one case of vision loss from posterior uveitis, and one case at risk of steroid-induced osteoporosis. The authors concluded that choice of treatment based on stage and clinical results remains the most effective method.

A 2004 report noted that many patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis fail to respond to usual therapies such as topical or intralesional corticosteroids, antimalarials, and methotrexate, and that thalidomide had previously been reported as effective in such cases. No numbers of patients or response rates from that report are provided in the abstract. A 2020 review summarised that comprehensive care includes not only pharmacological interventions but also supportive measures, and proposed a structured approach to management, but provided no new trial data.

The evidence base remains limited by small sample sizes, lack of controlled trials, and reliance on retrospective or observational data. What is still missing are large randomised controlled trials, standardised outcome measures, and stratification of patients by disease subtype or organ involvement to identify who might benefit from specific interventions.

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 Clinical Medicine · 2020 · 60 citations · open access

Comprehensive Care for Patients with Sarcoidosis

AbstractSarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease, associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. Treatment is aimed at recovering organ function, reducing symptom burden and improving quality of life. Because of the heterogeneity and variable disease course, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to care is needed. Comprehensive care includes not only pharmacological interventions, but also supportive measures aimed at relieving symptoms and improving quality of life. The purpose of this review is to summarize the most recent knowledge regarding different aspects of care and propose a structured approach to sarcoidosis management.

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9020390
Turkish Thoracic Journal · 2017 · 2 citations · open access

A Prospective Review of the Results of Patients Treated and Followed up for a Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis

AbstractOBJECTIVES: The present study reports the treatment and follow-up results of patients prospectively diagnosed and treated in a public hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study reports the prospective follow-up data of 21 sarcoidosis cases followed up and treated in the Department of Chest Diseases of Dörtyol State Hospital from January 2010 to December 2014. RESULTS: The 21 cases had a mean age of 44±10 years and a mean follow-up period of 38±13 months. While 10 cases were given steroid treatment, 11 cases were radiologically followed up. Besides pulmonary involvement, skin findings were detected in 7 cases and ophthalmologic findings were detected in 3 cases. In the treatment group, regression was observed in the radiographic findings of 6 cases, while no radiologically significant changes were seen in 4 cases. In the follow-up group, regression was observed in the radiographic findings of 9 cases, while no significant changes were seen in mediastinal LAPs of 2 cases. At the end of the treatment, it was found that 1 case developed steroid-induced myopathy, 1 case developed fungus ball of the sequelae, 1 case had loss of vision secondary to posterior uveitis, and 1 case had a risk of steroid-induced osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Choice of treatment procedure based on the stage and clinical results of the patient is still the most effective method in sarcoidosis treatment.

https://doi.org/10.5152/turkthoracj.2017.17028
Journal watch · 2004 · 0 citations

Some Patients with Cutaneous Sarcoidosis Benefit from Thalidomide

AbstractTreatment is often difficult in patients with cutaneous lesions of sarcoidosis, and many fail to respond to the usual therapies, such as topical or intralesional corticosteroids, antimalarial agents, and methotrexate. Many such patients respond to oral corticosteroids, but not at nontoxic doses. Thalidomide previously has been reported to be effective in …

https://doi.org/10.1056/jd200403160000005

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.