Publisher's Synopsis
This volume contains papers from a multidisciplinary conference convened to discuss mechanisms of action, pharmacology, models for drug development, and recent positive clinical trial data relating to the inhibition of collagenases and related metalloproteinases matrix (MMPs). Excess metalloproteinase activity has been identified in many disease processes, and finally products for the specific use as metalloproteinase inhibitors are about to be marketed. In this book, two novel themes are explored: the arguments for and against broad-spectrum versus specific MMP inhibitors, and the potential usefulness of "chairside" diagnostic kits for clinical determination of excessive MMP activity.
