Repurposing the MEK inhibitor binimetinib as a dual anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic agent in pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology with poor prognosis. The currently approved antifibrotic drugs only decelerate functional decline and fail to reverse established fibrosis or extend survival. Binimetinib, a highly selective and noncompetitive MEK1/2 inhibitor, has been approved for clinical use in malignancies such as melanoma and non–small cell lung cancer. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of binimetinib on IPF and to explore its underlying mechanism.