Meyer Pharmaceuticals is developing a new family of small-molecule anti-inflammatory drugs targeted to the newly identified TNF alpha converting enzyme TACE-2.

Rapid screening using a peptide cleavage assay has identified MP70 and MP72, two compounds (~600 mol. wt.) that virtually shut off activity of TACE-2 in a dose-dependent fashion.

These compounds have been tested for anti-TNF activity in cell culture experiments and in animal models.  Experiments conducted at Meyer have shown that MP72 was found to block LPS induced septic shock almost down to control levels. This validates TACE‑2 as a suitable target for treating inflammation.

Further validation of the target and the testing of additional small molecule compounds is under way.