The present invention relates to novel chemical compounds, methods for their discovery, and their therapeutic use. In particular, the present invention provides novel 1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-dione compounds, and methods of using novel 1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-dione compounds as therapeutic agents to treat a number of conditions associated with the faulty regulation of the processes of programmed cell death, autoimmunity, inflammation, hyperproliferation, and the like.