SEGRAs: a novel class of anti-inflammatory compounds.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been widely used in the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases for more than 50 years. They are very effective and represent standard therapies for many inflammatory conditions with immunologic or non-immunologic backgrounds. Unfortunately, the desired anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects are often accompanied by severe and/or partially non-reversible side effects (Table 1). Beside unknown individual factors, dosage and duration of therapy are major contributors to the frequency and severity of these side effects. Thus, long-term and high-dose GC therapy is problematic and partially dangerous. However, no good alternative exists so far, as other anti-inflammatory therapies usually are either less effective (at least in certain indications) or display a high side-effect potential as well.