Biochem/physiol Actions Tranilast is an anti-asthma drug, which inhibits LTC4 and PGE2 formation in stimulated monocytes, but does not inhibit cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase activity; inhibits mast cell degranulation; inhibits VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vivo and also inhibits proliferation and tube formation of human endothelial cells in vitro. Tranilast may represent a new class of drugs for therapy to treat ongoing TH1-mediated autoimmune diseases.