semapimod

Semapimod is a synthetic guanylhydrazone small molecule with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiviral, and antimalarial properties. It was originally developed at the Picower Institute for Medical Research and later licensed to Cytokine PharmaSciences. Semapimod acts primarily as an inhibitor of proinflammatory cytokine production by blocking activation of p38 MAP kinase (MAPK), c-Raf kinase, and NF-kB pathways. It also inhibits nitric oxide synthesis in macrophages by interfering with arginine uptake and suppresses translation efficiency of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. Additionally, semapimod blocks Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling by inhibiting the ATPase activity of the HSP90 family chaperone gp96, which is essential for TLR biogenesis. Its main clinical development has been in Crohn's disease and other inflammatory conditions; however, clinical trials have not demonstrated significant efficacy at lower doses for Crohn's disease[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].

Other names

semapimod tetrahydrochloride