amount of one or more fused pyrazolyl compounds described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier the term u201c preferentially inhibiting release of a pro inflammatory cytokine over release of an anti inflammatory cytokines u201d as used herein refers to inhibiting release of a pro inflammatory cytokine by a compound at a rate at least 3 times that at which release of an anti inflammatory cytokine is inhibited by the same compound u201c an effective amount u201d is the amount of a fused pyrazolyl compound which upon administration to a subject in need thereof is required to confer the above described inhibitory effect in the subject effective amounts may vary as recognized by those skilled in the art depending on route of administration excipient usage and the possibility of co usage with other agents this invention also features a method for inhibiting the activity of nf u03bab the method includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of one or more fused pyrazolyl compounds described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to practice the methods of the present invention a fused pyrazolyl compound can be administered orally parenterally by inhalation spray or via an implanted reservoir the term u201c parenteral u201d as used herein includes subcutaneous.