Disclosed is a method of screening candidate compounds for the ability to modulate the level of morphogenic protein in mammalian system. The method includes determining a parameter indicative of the level of production of a morphogenic in a cell culture known to produce the morphogen, incubating a candidate compound with the culture for a time sufficient to allow the compound to affect the production of the morphogenic protein, and then assaying the culture again to detect a change in the level of morphogenic protein production.