Human dipeptidyl peptidase I (hDPPI, cathepsin C, EC 3.4. 14.1) is a novel putative drug target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Using 1 as a starting point (IC50> 10μM), we have improved potency by more than 500-fold and successfully identified novel inhibitors of DPPI via screening of a one-bead-two-compounds library of semicarbazide derivatives. Selected compounds were shown to inhibit intracellular DPPI in RBL-2H3 cells. These ...