CXCL12 and rheumatoid arthritis: HBP08-2 may represent a valuable tool to investigate CXCL12/HMGB1-driven inflammatory pathways and to develop peptidomimetics with optimized pharmacokinetic profiles, thereby offering a promising strategy for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, where the CXCL12/HMGB1 heterocomplex plays a pivotal pro-inflammatory role.