After years of neglect, glial cells are finally registering on drug developers' radar. This reflects increasing knowledge not only about their immunological functions, particularly those related to the production of inflammatory cytokines, but also about their myriad interactions with neurons. The insights are opening up new possibilities for treating a wide range of central nervous system (CNS) conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, neuropathic pain, epilepsy, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury. Indeed, the US National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA) phase 2 trial of Alameda, California-based Avigen's small-molecule ibudilast (AV-411) for opioid addiction, initiated two months ago, is just one of several early-stage clinical trials of glial cell modulators currently underway (Table 1). And the results of these programs are generating more than idle interest; just a few weeks ago, San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company MediciNova announced a takeover bid for Avigen and its portfolio.