In an attempt to examine the effect of inhibition of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO; EC 1.4.3.6, also known as VAP-1) as a novel anti-inflammatory target, the structure/mechanism based design and synthesis of a series of novel hydrazino-containing small molecules are described. The in vitro biological results show that compounds 4a,c are highly potent SSAO inhibitors with notable selectivity toward SSAO over monoamine oxidases A and B (MAO-A and MAO-B). SAR studies based on compound 4c were performed, and the results are discussed. The most potent and selective compound, 4a (IC(50) = 2 nM), is an orally active, competitive, and apparently irreversible inhibitor of SSAO that is effective at reducing disease incidence and severity in an in vivo animal disease model of multiple sclerosis.