Bridging the computational-experimental gap: leveraging large language model to prioritize Alzheimer’s therapeutics based on comparison of learning models

Alzheimer's Disease<sup>1</sup> (AD) necessitates accelerated treatment discovery, positioning drug repurposing as a vital strategy. While computational approaches such as knowledge graph reasoning and transcriptomics show promise, they often yield divergent results, complicating the selection of candidates for experimental follow-up<sup>2,3</sup>. To bridge the gap between computational prediction and in vivo validation, we propose an advanced framework leveraging large language models (LLMs). We systematically evaluated three state-of-the-art computational methods (TxGNN, CompGCN, and regularized logistic regression (RLR)) to generate a unified list of 90 candidates. An LLM-based agent was then used to automate evidence synthesis from biomedical literature, mimicking expert curation to efficiently refine the list using transparent selection criteria. Validated against real-world AD patient data, clinical trial registries, and pharmacological reviews, our framework demonstrated high robustness and clinical relevance. By integrating computational predictions with scalable evidence synthesis, this approach enhances the efficiency and consistency of candidate prioritization. Ultimately, this versatile framework offers a scalable pathway to accelerate the translation of repurposed drugs for AD and other complex diseases.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
npj Health Systems
Published
2026-02-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44401-026-00074-3
Primary Topic
Computational Drug Discovery Methods
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Bridging the computational-experimental gap: leveraging large language model to prioritize Alzheimer’s therapeutics based on comparison of learning models

Manqi Li, Shuteng Niu, Duan Liu, N. Ertekin-Taner et al.
npj Health Systems
Computational Drug Discovery Methods
article

Bridging the computational-experimental gap: leveraging large language model to prioritize Alzheimer’s therapeutics based on comparison of learning models

Manqi Li, Shuteng Niu, Duan Liu, N. Ertekin-Taner, Xiaolei Xu, Merve Atik, Y. Xu, Cui Tao, Xinyue Hu, Jianfu Li
article en

Abstract

Alzheimer's Disease<sup>1</sup> (AD) necessitates accelerated treatment discovery, positioning drug repurposing as a vital strategy. While computational approaches such as knowledge graph reasoning and transcriptomics show promise, they often yield divergent results, complicating the selection of candidates for experimental follow-up<sup>2,3</sup>. To bridge the gap between computational prediction and in vivo validation, we propose an advanced framework leveraging large language models (LLMs). We systematically evaluated three state-of-the-art computational methods (TxGNN, CompGCN, and regularized logistic regression (RLR)) to generate a unified list of 90 candidates. An LLM-based agent was then used to automate evidence synthesis from biomedical literature, mimicking expert curation to efficiently refine the list using transparent selection criteria. Validated against real-world AD patient data, clinical trial registries, and pharmacological reviews, our framework demonstrated high robustness and clinical relevance. By integrating computational predictions with scalable evidence synthesis, this approach enhances the efficiency and consistency of candidate prioritization. Ultimately, this versatile framework offers a scalable pathway to accelerate the translation of repurposed drugs for AD and other complex diseases.

npj Health SystemsVol. 3(1)
Mayo Clinic (US), University of Washington (US), Jacksonville College (US), WinnMed (US), Mayo Clinic in Arizona (US), Mayo Clinic in Florida (US), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging
Openalex Percentile: Top 41%
Computational Drug Discovery Methods
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.