Transplanting triumphs
ORGAN transplant rejections could soon become a thing of the past. A new drug which can halve the rejection rate of transplanted organs and billed as 'the most exciting development in transplantation in the 'last decade', has been recently developed by the UK-b6sed Roche company.
Though the drug, CellCept, could mean an initial increase in transplant costs, in the long run, it could lead to significant savings as patients need not go in for more transplants and can desist from opting for expensive dialysis. Cel(Cept, which costs about US $4,750, has so far been tested for kidney transplants, but should also work for other organs like heart, lungs and liver, according t)6 its manufacturers.
CellCept works by dampening down the defence cells which attack transplanted organs presuming them to be foreign bodies. According to Neil Parrott consultant transplant surgeon at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, the drug also "has the promise to reduce chronic (transplant) rejectilon".