While these drugs are often successful, they leave the patient vulnerable to many infections. These drugs may enable doctors to suppress the immune system from rejecting a particular organ, but leave the rest of the body's immune system intact. Drugs designed to help transplant patients may end up also aiding those who are stricken with diseases such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis and diabetes, because these involve problems with the human immune system. For example, Imuran is approved to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis, and Prograf has already shown some promise to MS patients. A large study is under way to determine if it is effective.
Genetic engineering is the next step in battling organ rejection.
FDA is active in basic research that may lead to better gene therapies and ways of manipulating animal organs. Recently publicized efforts in animal cloning may also prove to be beneficial in the future. I think donors will increase, however, as our ability to treat more disorders with transplanted organs advances, the need will expand. The net effect will be an ever rising gap between availability and demand. Therefore, advancing the frontiers of science using artificial organs, or animal organs is essential.