Drug repurposing for TAK1 inhibition in inflammatory diseases and cancer: virtual screening identifies nilotinib and dabrafenib as potential candidates

TGF-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is a critical regulator of inflammatory and oncogenic signaling pathways and represents a promising therapeutic target for diseases ranging from chronic inflammation to cancer. However, existing therapies targeting downstream mediators often face limitations such as drug resistance and inconsistent efficacy. Here, we report on drug repurposing to discover FDA-approved compounds that can suppress TAK1 activity. Molecular docking of 3500 drugs from the DrugBank database was performed, followed by drug profiling, biological activity analysis, and 500-nanosecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations via a multi-step computational protocol. The systematic screening identified a few hits where two drugs, nilotinib and dabrafenib, showed appreciable binding affinity to the ATP-binding site of TAK1 and showed appropriate drug profiles. Stable interaction analyses indicated consistent engagement of catalytic residues and structural motifs essential for ATP binding and subsequent TAK1 function. MD simulations further indicated stable TAK1–ligand complexes for both nilotinib and dabrafenib, with persistent hydrogen-bonding interactions and maintenance of protein compactness throughout the simulations. These findings support the repositioning of nilotinib and dabrafenib as potential TAK1-targeting compounds toward therapeutic development against inflammation-driven pathologies and cancer. Experimentally validating these insights at the level of cells, tissues, organs, and body systems is necessary to translate computational insights into practical use for therapeutic development.