Matrix metalloproteinases as valid clinical targets.

The matrix metalloproteinase family of enzymes has been a pharmaceutical target for over 20 years. In that time, many drugs have been developed but none have successfully passed clinical trials. A significant problem has been development of dose-limiting side-effects that were revealed during long-term clinical trials in diseases such as arthritis and various cancers. There are, however, other clinical settings where evidence for MMP function contributing to the pathophysiology of disease is strong. A number of these settings will be discussed here together with evidence from animal models that MMP inhibition is a valid strategy to be considered. A major advantage with many of these settings is that drug exposure may not have to be long-term and/or systemic thus reducing the possibility that side-effects will stymie MMPI-based therapy.