7ß, is an orally bio-available synthetic derivative of naturally occurring androstene-3ß, 7ß, 17ß-triol. Our present data show that oral treatment with HE3286, favourably influenced the course of arthritis in the rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (reduced cumulative disease scores and paw edema), and in the mouse model of collagen antibody-induced arthritis (reduced clinical paw scores). Importantly, HE3286 was not immune suppressive in human mixed lymphocyte reaction or in animals

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... ged with Coxsackie B3 virus. HE3286 is currently in phase I/II clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis and these findings further strengthen the possibility that HE3286 may represent an effective antiinflammatory agent useful for treating chronic inflammation with a more attractive safety profile than glucocorticoids or cyclooxygenase inhibitors.