This invention relates to methods for treating asthma or allergy in a mammal by administering a 3-aminosteroid compound to a mammal in need thereof. The 3-aminosteroid compound being capable of down regulating the IL-9 pathway and alleviating asthmatic responses to allergen. Exemplary 3-aminosteroid compounds used in the methods of the invention include compounds having the chemical formula (I), wherein X, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 groups are as defined herein. The invention also relates to certain novel compounds of formula (I). Moreover, the invention also provides methods for identifying an immunomodulatory 3-aminosteroid compound.