"The project will focus on the pre-clinical development of carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Carbon monoxide (CO) has been shown, by several renowned laboratories around the world, to have a number of anti-inflammatory properties which turn it into an exceptionally promising compound against chronic inflammatory diseases such as RA. In its gaseous form CO will hardly be applicable as a drug in a clinical setting. One proponent SME, has conceived and produced a large number of molecules which will release or donate CO, inside the organism, in specific physiological or pathological conditions. These molecules, called CORMs, hold the promise of delivering CO in controlled amounts, at specific rates and in a targeted manner to inflamed tissues such as arthritic joints. In recent months some of these CORMs have been tested in preliminary experiments using rodent models of RA, and have yielded encouraging results in terms of efficacy and toxicity. The main goal of this project will be: to select a small number of exceptionally promising CORMs for the treatment of RA, to develop the best formulations for those compounds, to test their detailed pharmacological and toxicological properties, and ultimately arrive at one lead candidate for clinical development. With this aim, three different SMEs will join their resources, critical mass and knowledge in the field of CORMs, pharmacological test, analysis and standardization and validation of developed assays to gain the ambitious, but reasonable goal: at least one new molecule in clinical trials."