In the fight to cure thromboinflammatory diseases, one of the target molecules is thrombin, a protein that promotes inflammation and can cause blood clots. However, inhibiting thrombin too much can lead to uncontrolled bleeding, limiting the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Now, researchers have found that a class of small molecule called ‘parmodulins’ can reduce inflammation without compromising normal blood clotting, making parmodulins attractive candidates for new, safer drugs.