By Kim Tae-gyu
A team of Korean scientists is poised to carry out clinical tests of biological artificial liver machines for the first success in the world in an effort to help patients suffering from liver diseases.
The team, headed by professors Kwon Choon-hyuck and Lee Suk-koo of Sungkyunkwan University, said Friday that they will start the tests as soon as eligible patients apply.
``We developed the biological artificial liver system using the livers of gnotobiotic pigs after devising ways to prevent negative immune responses,’’ Kwon said.
``We expect that the system will benefit patients with acute liver failure who can’t wait long for transplants.’’
The gnotobiotic pigs have never been exposed to external factors and have been raised in germ-free facilities to prevent infection in the case their organs or cells are used for humans.
The mammal with organs most similar to those of humans is the pig. Pig livers are almost the same as those of humans in size and so are its body’s metabolic functions.
``We will conduct the first and second clinical tests with six patients. Should the results be successful, we will be able to start the final tests in 2013 or 2014,’’ Kwon said.
``We tried the system with dogs to see if the inter-species format works so that we could get approval from the government for the human tests. We hope for the same results in clinical tests.’’
Scientists around the world have tried to develop biological artificial livers but just a handful of them have managed to attempt clinical tests until now.
Only a single team performed the final clinical test but the result was not a success, according to Kwon.
Asked when the treatment could be commercialized, Kwon said that his team could not be certain, considering the low success rates in clinical experiments.
``Out of 100 medical treatment procedures, merely 10 make it to the final test where a couple of them survive. We still have a long way to go,’’ he said.
Those who suffer acute liver failure or who wait for liver transplants can apply for the trials. They should be aged between 18 and 60 and weigh more than 45 kilograms.
Once they are selected, the treatment costs will be covered by Samsung Medical Center. Sungkyunkwan University is financially supported by the Samsung Group.