Breakthrough drug FT-11 has the potential to end the need for dialysis in kidney disease

Australian scientists say they have developed a drug with the potential to save millions of lives from kidney disease.

The scientists from the University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital and Bio21 Institute say the drug may prevent a condition responsible for up to 45% of all deaths in the western world, mark an end to dialysis for patients with kidney disease and reduce the need for organ transplants.

The team say the breakthrough drug FT-11 works by preventing the spread of fibrosis, the irreversible scarring of vital organs, which is the underlying killer in illnesses such as kidney disease, diabetes, heart failure and lung and liver problems.

Currently there is no available treatment which prevents or halts the spread of the condition and the race is on to produce an antifibrotic drug.

In preliminary trials on rats FT-11 had a 100% success rate with no side effects and human trials on 30 patients are expected to begin soon.

Professor Darren Kelly who has led the two-year research project, says it could save the lives of millions of patients around the world and bring an end to kidney dialysis and also offer an improved lifestyle.

Dr. Kelly says FT-11 has the potential to be a block buster drug with enormous financial rewards; Melbourne University shares patent rights for the drug through Fibrotech Therapeutics.

The plans are for the drug to be initially developed to treat kidney disease caused by diabetes and could mean the difference between taking one tablet a day as against needing eight hours of dialysis every few days; the drug could also be used to prevent diabetes.

Kidney Health Australia, says fibrosis causes the majority of chronic kidney diseases and any drug that could stop the onset of scarring to the kidney would be a major advance. There are currently 10,000 Australians on dialysis.

According to Professor Kelly if clinical trials are successful the drug could be available within eight to 10 years.