DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for short bowel syndrome — screening already-approved drugs against its 2-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleShort bowel syndrome maps to a 2-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 short bowel syndrome 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
growth hormone receptor (GHR) — GHR 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 apo structuredrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 1A22 · 2.6 Å · ligand none (apo structure). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a 15-year series of 160 patients (48 adults, 112 children), 44% adapted to resection and took enteral nutrition alone, 28% required parenteral nutrition, and 28% underwent 49 surgical procedures. Among patients with adequate intestinal length but dilated bowel, 87% improved after stricturoplasty or tapering. In patients with shorter remnants and rapid transit, artificial valves or reversed segments initially improved all cases, but the reversed segment later required revision or takedown. Intestinal lengthening improved 86% of patients with short remnants and dilated bowel; one patient died, one underwent transplantation. For very short remnants under 60 cm, solitary intestine or combined liver-intestinal transplantation yielded 65% one-year graft survival, with five deaths.
A 2009 review notes that patient survival after intestinal transplantation remains suboptimal at approximately 50–60% at five years. The same review states that multidisciplinary teams have improved outcomes and can prevent or slow progression of life-threatening complications in many short bowel syndrome patients, and that new medications to improve intestinal absorption and alternate intravenous lipid preparations have expanded non-transplant options.
A 2021 study protocol describes a 24-week double-blind trial of teduglutide in children up to age 17 with short bowel syndrome who are dependent on parenteral support. Participants may choose the study drug or a standard-of-care arm. Teduglutide is already approved for adults with short bowel syndrome.
Three clinical cases from 2022 describe patients with acquired short bowel syndrome who achieved pronounced clinical improvement through reconstructive surgery, though the report does not provide sample sizes or quantitative outcomes beyond that statement. The 1995 series remains the largest published surgical experience cited here, with 44% of patients eventually tolerating enteral nutrition alone. What is still missing are large, randomised controlled trials comparing surgical and medical approaches, standardised definitions of remnant length and function that predict success, and funding for long-term follow-up of both transplanted and non-transplanted patients.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Annals of Surgery · 1995 · 181 citations · open access
Surgical Approach to Short-Bowel Syndrome
AbstractOBJECTIVE: The authors reviewed their experience with short-bowel syndrome to define the surgical approach to this problem in 160 patients. METHODS: Forty-eight adults and 112 children were evaluated over a 15-year period. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients (44%) adapted to resection and took enteral nutrition alone. Forty-four patients (28%) were supported by parenteral nutrition (PN). Forty-five patients (28%) have had 49 surgical procedures. Fifteen patients with adequate intestinal length (> 120 cm in adults) but dilated dysfunctional bowel underwent stricturoplasty (n = 4) or tapering (n = 11). Thirteen patients (87%) demonstrated clinical improvement. Fourteen patients with shorter remnants (90-120 cm) and rapid transit time received an artificial valve (n = 2) or a reversed segment (n = 1). All patients' conditions improved initially, but the reversed segment was revised or taken down. Fourteen patients with short remnants and dilated bowel underwent intestinal lengthening. Twelve patients' conditions improved (86%), one underwent transplantation, and one died. Sixteen patients with very short remnants (< 60 cm) and complications of PN underwent solitary intestine (n = 4) or combined liver-intestinal transplantation (n = 13). One-year graft survival was 65%. There have been five deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical approach to short-bowel syndrome depends on the patient's age, remnant length and caliber, intestinal function, and PN-related complications. Nontransplant procedures have a role in the treatment of selected patients. Intestinal transplantation is emerging as a potential therapy for patients with significant PN-related complications.
Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation · 2009 · 18 citations
Advances in the nontransplant medical and surgical management of intestinal failure
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Although intestinal transplantation is uniquely suited for the treatment of patients with intestinal failure suffering from life-threatening complications, patient survival at 5 years remains suboptimal at approximately 50-60%. RECENT FINDINGS: The introduction of effective medications to improve intestinal absorption, alternate intravenous lipid preparations that may reduce cholestasis and a technically easier nontransplant intestinal lengthening procedure have largely changed the available options for nontransplant interventions. Multidisciplinary teams created to manage the complexities of this population have shown improved outcomes and the ability to prevent or slow progression of life-threatening complications that would otherwise lead to intestinal transplantation in a large number of patients with short bowel syndrome. SUMMARY: Here, we review the historical options, recent advances and cutting-edge research that will likely provide the basis for further advances in the treatment of patients with short bowel syndrome as the cause of their intestinal failure.
Short bowel syndrome: the pathophysiology and treatment
AbstractShort bowel syndrome is a complex part of intestinal failure. This group of patients have complex care pathways requiring the management from a specialist multidisciplinary team. Nutrition, fuid and electrolyte management, complex wound management, surgical interventions and psychosocial support are part of the daily treatment. If managed incorrectly, short bowel syndrome can be life threatening. In this article, Jacquie Peck, Lian Soo, Lela Boland, Al Windsor and Alec Engledow provide an explanation of the pathophysiology of short bowel syndrome and management provided by a specialist unit.
International Surgery Journal · 2016 · 1 citations · open access
Short bowel syndrome
AbstractShort bowel syndrome is one of the most complex sequel to resection of extensive lengths of the small intestine. The nutritional depletion caused exerts deleterious effects on every organ system of the body. Identifying and managing this complex problem is the biggest challenge to the clinician. The pathophysiology and therapeutic approach to short bowel syndrome is discussed.
A 24-Week Double-blind, Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacodynamic Study Investigating Two Doses of Teduglutide in Pediatric Subjects Through 17 Years of Age With Short Bowel Syndrome Who Are Dependent on Parenteral Support
AbstractTeduglutide is approved for treatment of adults with short bowel syndrome (SBS). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of teduglutide in children up to the age of 17 with SBS who are dependent on parenteral support. Subjects may choose whether to receive the study drug or to participate in a standard-of-care arm. All participants who complete the study may be eligible to receive the study drug in a long-term extension study.
Early reconstructive rescue surgery for acquired short bowel syndrome (clinical report)
AbstractShort bowel syndrome is a severe, rare malabsorption disorder, often resulting from extensive surgical resections of the small intestine. This condition is often accompanied by pronounced violations of the nutritional status and fluid and electrolyte balance, which are poorly amenable to drug correction. In this article, we describe three clinical cases of patients suffering from this pathology where it was possible to achieve pronounced clinical improvement through reconstructive surgery.
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.
