Pannexin 1 (PANX1) forms channels that may release signaling metabolites that are involved in a variety of pathophysiological processes, such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), among others. Inhibition of PANX1 when dysregulated has been proposed as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of IBD.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a serine protease, the expression of which increases with pathogenic fibroblasts in the fibrotic liver during metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and might induce fibrosis by cleaving several proteins that regulate extracellular matrix turnover and metabolism, including α2-antiplasmin (α2-AP) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Astrazeneca plc recently presented new results on their research regarding their oral small-molecule FAP inhibitor, AZD-2389, as a candidate drug for treating MASH.