Japanese Researchers Report Discovery of New Immunosuppressive Drug

Japanese researchers reported at the 19th International Congress of The Transplantation Society that they have discovered a new immunosuppressive agent that does not produce any side effects.

Kenji Yuzawa of Tsukuba University said the new agent, called APC0576, was used to suppress rejection for 30 days in two Rhesus monkeys, during which time the kidneys functioned normally and no side effects were obsered.

"By examining the experiment's results using the monkeys, which are close to humans, we expect the agent will also be effective for humans," Yuzawa said.

Nagoya University Prof. Shinichi Oshima, a director of the Japan Society for Transplantation, said, "Further study is necessary because the number of experiments is still small."

Other sources: International Congress of the Transplantation Society, Daily Yomiuri