SD169 is an indole-5-carboxamide, orally-available, ATP-competitive, a-selective p38 MAPK inhibitor that targets a wide variety of inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, B and CD4+ T cells, and endothelial cells. [1] Through interactions with Schwann cell and TNF activity, SD169 promotes axonal regeneration in peripheral nerves. [2]

SD169 has been shown to reduce myeloma-induced osteolytic bone lesions and restored bone mass by downregulating osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis in xenografted primary myeloma-SCID-hu or myeloma cell line-SCID mouse models. [3] SD169 was also shown downregulates pp38 in myeloma cells in vitro and in vivo.

In the diabetes therapeutic area, SD169 significantly reduces p38 and HSP60 expression in T cells of the pancreatic beta islets. In studies using hyperglycemic NOD mice, SD169 treatment lowered blood glucose and improved glucose homeostasis. [4]