Drugs that block FAK to treat lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis)
Official title: Non-catalytic FAK inhibitors as novel therapeutics for lung fibrosis
Funded at Faknostics, LLC · NIH-11180503 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new type of medicine that blocks a protein called FAK aims to reduce or reverse lung scarring in people with pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Faknostics, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phoenix, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $663,310 |
| NIH project number | 5R42HL162392-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180503 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or other progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases who might enroll in future clinical trials of new anti-fibrotic drugs.
✕Less likely to help
People without pulmonary fibrosis or those with very advanced, end-stage disease already listed for transplant are unlikely to benefit from this work in the near term.
What this research studies
This project is developing non-catalytic FAK inhibitors that interfere with the scaffolding function of the FAK protein, which is linked to scarring in lung tissue. Researchers will test these compounds in cells and standard animal models of lung fibrosis (including bleomycin models) and use human lung samples to guide development. The team will optimize compounds for safety, target engagement, and anti-fibrotic activity with the goal of producing a candidate ready for human testing. Work is being led by a small company in Phoenix focused on translating these lab findings toward clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could slow, halt, or possibly reverse lung scarring and improve breathing and quality of life for people with pulmonary fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory and animal studies of FAK inhibition have shown promise, but blocking the non-catalytic scaffolding function is a newer approach with limited prior clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Faknostics, LLC
Phoenix, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marlowe, Timothy a — Faknostics, LLC
- Study coordinator: Marlowe, Timothy a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.