p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitor VIII is a synthetic 4-aminobenzophenone small molecule identified in an optimization study for inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase. p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitor VIII is described to inhibit the p38α and p38β isoforms of the kinase by occupying the ATP-binding cleft. This inhibition is described to potently block the release of TNF-α (IC50 = 5 nM) and the proinflammatory interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 (IC50s = 30, 17, 4, 74 nM).