BAY 11-7085 is widely used in biomedical research for its ability to inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway, a key regulator of inflammation, immune responses, and cell survival. It acts by blocking the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IκBα, which keeps NF-κB sequestered in the cytoplasm and prevents its activation. This makes BAY 11-7085 a valuable tool in studies related to inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and sepsis. It is also employed in cancer research to examine the role of NF-κB in tumor progression, as constitutive activation of this pathway is often linked to resistance to apoptosis and chemotherapy. By suppressing NF-κB activity, BAY 11-7085 can sensitize certain cancer cells to apoptosis, making it useful in exploring combination therapies. Additionally, it has been used in studies involving viral infections, where NF-κB activation plays a role in viral replication and host immune response. Researchers apply BAY 11-7085 to dissect signaling mechanisms in immune cells and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of NF-κB inhibition in various disease models.