Effect of the p38 MAPK inhibitor doramapimod on the systemic inflammatory response to intravenous lipopolysaccharide in horses

Abstract

Background: Doramapimod, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, is a potent anti-inflammatory drug that decreases inflammatory cytokine production in equine whole blood in vitro. It may have benefits for treating systemic inflammation in horses. Objective: To determine whether doramapimod is well tolerated when administered IV to horses, and whether it has anti-inflammatory effects in horses in a low-dose endotoxemia model. Animals: Six Standardbred horses. Methods: Tolerability study, followed by a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over study. Horses were given doramapimod, and clinical and clinicopathological variables were monitored for 24 hours. Horses then were treated with doramapimod or pl..