Patent ID: 8389474

Claim:
A method to improve the viability of a harvested allograft transplant tissue or organ, said harvested allograft tissue or organ having inflammation from compromised arterial perfusion and/or exposure to cold temperature, comprising: harvesting said allograft tissue or organ; and contacting said harvested allograft tissue or organ directly with a cold temperature storage medium containing an IL-1β targeted therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of an IL-1β receptor antagonist, an IL-1 TRAP, and an IL-1β monoclonal antibody; wherein said IL-1β targeted therapeutic agent neutralizes IL-1β derived from pro-IL-1β released from said harvested allograft tissue or organ and reduces said inflammation in said harvested allograft tissue or organ associated with compromised arterial perfusion and/or exposure to cold temperature, wherein said harvested allograft tissue or organ is flushed with said cold temperature storage medium containing an IL-1β targeted therapeutic agent immediately after time of harvest.