Soluble TNF (selective)

Class

Selective soluble-TNF inhibitor

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a signaling protein central to inflammation. It exists in two forms: a soluble form released after enzymatic cleavage from the cell surface, and a transmembrane form that remains anchored on the producing cell. Both forms activate immune and tissue responses, but they act through different receptors and have distinct biological roles. Soluble TNF signals mainly through TNF receptor 1, a pathway strongly associated with driving inflammation and, in the nervous system, contributing to neuronal injury. Transmembrane TNF, in contrast, preferentially engages TNF receptor 2, which supports immune regulation, tissue repair, and processes such as remyelination. Conventional anti-TNF antibodies neutralize both forms indiscriminately, which is effective against inflammatory disease but can suppress the protective, repair-oriented signaling as well, and has been linked to increased infection risk and, in rare cases, worsening of nervous system conditions. A selective soluble-TNF inhibitor is designed to block only the harmful soluble form while sparing transmembrane TNF and its regulatory functions. This selectivity is being explored particularly for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions, where reducing soluble TNF-driven neurotoxicity without disrupting protective transmembrane TNF signaling may offer a more favorable balance between efficacy and safety than broad TNF blockade.