Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of indirubin-based compounds with potential anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. It serves as a building block for kinase inhibitors, which are important in targeted cancer therapies. Also employed in research settings to develop novel derivatives for biological activity screening, especially in studies related to cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Its structural features make it valuable in medicinal chemistry for designing analogs with enhanced potency and selectivity.