Methods of use and pharmaceutical compositions for a genus of low molecular weight compounds comprising optionally substituted isoxazoline ring systems that act as inhibitors of MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor) are disclosed. Specifically, the compounds are useful for treating a variety of diseases involving inflammatory activity or pro-inflammatory cytokine responses, such as autoimmune diseases (including rheumatiod arthritis, insulin-dependent diabetes, multiple sclerosis, graft versus host disease, lupus syndromes), asthma, arthritis, ARDS, psoriasis, interleukin-2 toxicity, proliferative vascular disease, and various forms of sepsis and septic shock, and other conditions characterized by underlying MIF responses including, for instance, tumor growth and neovascularization (angiogenesis).