Abstract: The present invention describes compounds comprising new and useful peptides and peptidomimetics that can bind to CD23. They are capable of reducing inflammatory responses associated with auto-immune diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, allergies and other inflammatory conditions such as those mediated by the mammalian immune system. Compounds of the present invention relate to a CD23-binding peptide wherein said peptide comprises an amino-acid sequence of X1—X2—X3—X4—X5—X6—X7—X8, wherein: X1 is Phe, or is absent; X2 is His or Ala; X3 is Glu, Ser, Ala, Asn, Lys, or Cys; X4 is Asn, Phe, Gln, Pro, Ser, or Ala; X5 is Trp; X6 is Pro, Arg, Glu, Gly, Cys, or Lys; X7 is Ser, Pro, Leu, Thr Ala, Gly, Asn, or absent; and X8 is Phe, Gly, or is absent.