Targeted Drug Repurposing for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease that leads to the thickening and scarring of lung tissue, primarily affecting the alveoli. The progression of IPF is driven by several molecular targets, including “Fibroblast Growth Factor” (FGF), “Tumor Necrosis <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{Factor}-\alpha(\mathbf{TNF}-\alpha)$</tex>”, and “Transforming Growth <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{Factor}-\beta(\mathbf{TGF}-\beta)$</tex>”. Although various therapeutic agents have been developed to relieve symptoms and slow disease progression, effective treatment options remain limited. This study explores the potential of repurposing existing drugs, such as statins, “angiotensin II receptor blockers” (ARBs), and antidiabetic agents, for the treatment of IPF. Through computational docking studies, pharmacokinetic assessment, and toxicity evaluation, a pyrazole compound (PubChem ID 24825307) was identified as a promising candidate, showing strong binding affinities to FGF and TNF <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$-\alpha$</tex> receptors. These findings suggest that this compound could be a valuable therapeutic option for IPF, warranting further laboratory and clinical investigation.