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Inflammasomes are intracellular protein complexes that mediate inflammatory signalling cascades. Dysregulation of the inflammasome has been implicated in numerous diseases, including cancer, metabolic diseases and neurodegeneration (Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 17, 588–606; 2018). Recent acquisitions of companies developing inflammasome-targeted drugs indicate enthusiasm for such agents (Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 18, 405–407; 2019). Their potential has been buoyed by recent positive clinical data in cardiovascular disease and cancer for canakinumab, which targets the downstream inflammasome signal interleukin-1β (IL-1β).