DeCure's autonomous Immuno AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for ulcerative colitis — screening already-approved drugs against its 43-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleUlcerative colitis maps to a 43-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
Structures already discussed alongside ulcerative colitis in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
Crystal structure of human Biliverdin IX-beta reductase B — Olsalazine has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 7ERA, 1.35 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.
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helix sheet jbcdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 7ERA · 1.35 Å · ligand Olsalazine (JBC). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2003 pilot trial gave 25 patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis flares Saccharomyces boulardii 250 mg three times a day for four weeks, added to their existing mesalazine maintenance. Of the 24 who completed the study, 17 attained clinical remission, confirmed endoscopically. The authors called for controlled studies; no larger controlled trial of S. boulardii in ulcerative colitis appears in the abstracts provided.
A 1988 controlled trial compared olsalazine 500 mg twice daily with sulphasalazine 1 g twice daily for maintenance of remission in 164 patients. Relapse occurred in 16 of 82 (19.5%) on olsalazine and 10 of 82 (12.2%) on sulphasalazine; the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.1632). A 2012 study of 82 patients reported a total effectiveness rate of 97.56% for olsalazine versus 70.73% for sulfasalazine, with a significantly lower complication rate in the olsalazine group. The two studies disagree on whether olsalazine is equivalent or superior to sulphasalazine.
A 2006 study randomised 52 patients with acute exacerbations to balsalazide 6.75 g daily or mesalamine 2.4 g daily for eight weeks. Complete remission occurred in 8 of 17 (47.1%) on balsalazide and 10 of 23 (43.5%) on mesalamine. Sigmoidoscopic improvement was more frequent with balsalazide (82.35%) than with mesalamine (47.83%). Adverse events occurred in 70.8% of the balsalazide group and 64.3% of the mesalamine group; no clinically significant laboratory changes were noted.
Earlier reviews from 1962 and 1965 describe medical treatment as including diet, sedatives, antidiarrheal agents, antibiotics, chemotherapy and steroids, and note that results are usually satisfactory but relapse is common. A 2021 update states that 5-aminosalicylates remain first-line for mild to moderate disease, with escalation to immunosuppressants and biologics when response is suboptimal, and that surgery may still be required. What is missing from the evidence base are adequately powered, placebo-controlled trials of Saccharomyces boulardii, consistent head-to-head comparisons of the various 5-aminosalicylate formulations, and prospective studies that stratify patients by disease subtype or biomarker to predict which drug works for whom.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology · 2003 · 378 citations
A pilot trial of Saccharomyces boulardii in ulcerative colitis
AbstractOBJECTIVES: Probiotics can be useful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. In a previous report, the non-pathogenic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii was found to be beneficial in the maintenance treatment of Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of S. boulardii in ulcerative colitis patients. METHODS: A group of 25 patients with a mild to moderate clinical flare-up of ulcerative colitis received additional treatment with S. boulardii 250 mg three times a day for 4 weeks during maintenance treatment with mesalazine. These patients were unsuitable for steroid therapy. Before and after treatment, Rachmilewitz's clinical activity index was calculated. The probiotic treatment was considered a therapeutic success only when the final score was lower than 6. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients who completed the study, 17 attained clinical remission; this was confirmed endoscopically. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results suggest that S. boulardii can be effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Controlled studies with this probiotic agent are warranted.
Clinical Medicine · 2021 · 343 citations · open access
Ulcerative colitis: an update
AbstractUlcerative colitis is a relapsing and remitting disease that is increasing in incidence and prevalence. Management aims to achieve rapid resolution of symptoms, mucosal healing and improvement in a patient's quality of life. 5-aminosalicylate acid medications remain the first-line treatment for mild to moderate disease. In the event of suboptimal response to these medications, escalation to immunosuppressive medications and biologics may be necessary. Importantly, despite best medical therapy, surgery may be required in a proportion of patients. The future will likely see an array of new therapeutic options for those with ulcerative colitis with the potential for a more personalised treatment approach.
Controlled trial comparing olsalazine and sulphasalazine for the maintenance treatment of ulcerative colitis.
AbstractOne hundred and sixty four patients with ulcerative colitis in remission were entered into a double blind, double dummy trial comparing olsalazine 500 mg bd and sulphasalazine 1 g bd. Clinical examination, sigmoidoscopy and rectal biopsy were performed at 0, three, and six months. Sixteen of 82 (19.5%) patients relapsed on olsalazine and 10/82 (12.2%) relapsed on sulphasalazine. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.1632). Adverse events were minor and were similar in both groups. No haematological or biochemical abnormalities were detected. Thus, olsalazine is as effective as sulphasalazine for preventing a relapse of ulcerative colitis.
AbstractMedical treatment for ulcerative colitis includes diet, sedatives, antidiarrheal agents, antibiotics, chemotherapy and steroids. Their application in cases of varying severity is outlined. Several complications are discussed briefly. Individualized treatment and teamwork by internist, surgeon and psychiatrist are stressed. Despite the handicap of dealing with a disease of unknown cause, recent advances in both medical and surgical skills permit a degree of optimism.
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum · 1962 · 0 citations
Medical aspects of chronic ulcerative colitis
AbstractSummary Although management of chronic ulcerative colitis continues to challenge the physician, our ability to treat this devastating disease is rapidly improving. Experience at the Ochsner Clinic indicates that the incidence and clinical picture of this condition are similar to those reported from medical centers located further North. Results of medical treatment are usually satisfactory, although the disease still exhibits a pronounced tendency to relapse. The most satisfactory surgical method of handling intractable chronic or fulminant ulcerative colitis or dangerous complications is total or subtotal colectomy and ileostomy.
A Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Balsalazide (Basazyde(superscript ®)) and Mesalamine (Asacol(superscript ®)) for the Treatment of Acute Exacerbation of Ulcerative Colitis
AbstractPurpose. This is a randomized, multi-center, double-dummy, and active-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of balsalazide as compared to mesalamine for a treatment period of eight weeks in patients with acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Methods. Subjects with acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis and had symptomatic grade 2~4 ulcerative colitis after being checked by sigmoidoscopic examination were recruited for the study. Subjects were randomized to received balsalazide (750 mg/cap, 3# tid) and mesalamine (400 mg/tab, 2# tid). Fifty-two subjects were enrolled into the study, forty of them completed eight weeks treatment. Efficacy and safety were evaluated after eight weeks treatment. Results. Complete remission occurred in 8 of 17 (47.1%) patients in the balsalazide group and 10 of 23 (43.5%) patients in the mesalamine group. Sigmoidoscopic improvement is more significant in the balsalazide group (82.35%) than mesalamine group (47.83%). Adverse event was experienced in 17 of 24 patients (70.8%) in the balsalazide group and 18 of 28 patients (64.3%) in the mesalamine group. There were no clinically significant changes in routine laboratory assessments and vital signs in either treatment groups. Conclusion. This study confirmed that 8 weeks of treatment with 6.75g daily of balsalazide is safe, well tolerated, and effective for acute ulcerative colitis. Balsalazide is therefore proven to be an effective treatment in the management of ulcerative colitis.
The efficacy of olsalazine versus that of sulfasalazine for ulcerative colitis comparative
AbstractObjective To compare the efficacy of olsalazine with that of sulfasalazine ( SPSA ) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.Methods 82 patients with ulcerative colitis were randomly divided into study group and control group.The study group received olsalazine while the control group received sulfasalazine.The efficacy was compared between the two groups.Results The total effectiveness rate was 97.56％ in the study group but 70.73％ in the control group The incidence rate of complications was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group ( P＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions Olsalazine for ulcerative colitis can significantly improve the efficacy and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.
Key words:
Olsalazine; Sulfasalazine; Ulcerative colitis
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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