Neuroinflammatory disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established mouse model mimicking part of the human pathology, are characterized by inflammatory infiltrates containing T helper 1 (T<sub>H</sub>1) and T<sub>H</sub>17 cells, which cause demyelination and neurodegeneration. Disease onset and perpetuation are mediated by peripherally generated autoreactive T cells infiltrating into the central nervous system, where they are restimulated by antigen-presenting cells. Here, we show that newly designed peripherally active, potent, and selective κ-opioid receptor (KOR) agonists comprising the ethylenediamine KOR pharmacophore in a perhydroquinoxaline scaffold exhibit potent anti-inflammatory capacities in primary antigen presenting cells as well as T cells. In the EAE model, the secondary amine 12 and the triazole 14 were able to ameliorate disease severity and to delay disease onset by blocking effector T cell activation. Importantly, the beneficial effects were mediated via signaling through KOR because off-target effects were excluded by using KOR-deficient mouse mutants.