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 HGF Genetic Medicine
| In 1984, Toshikazu Nakamura, professor at Osaka University, was the first to confirm the HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor) as a protein that helps hepatic cells to multiply. At first, the research and observation of HGF had been conducted with the aim of finding a curative drug for hepatic diseases. In 1995, however, Ryuichi Morishita, professor at Osaka University, developed a new method to regenerate blood vessels through HGF gene administration. The HGF genetic medicine has a high potential to become one of the most innovative and revolutionary curative medicines ever to be developed as it will enable the neogenesis of new blood vessels to be used for ischemic patients who are suffering from deteriorating blood circulation due to clogged vessels. |
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Examples of diseases caused by the clogging of blood vessels include: 1. peripheral arterial diseases (PAD) (arteriosclerosis obliterans and Buerger's disease) that may ultimately lead to the amputation of a lower limb due to necrosis caused by poor blood circulation due to occlusion by diabetes, etc. of blood vessels in the lower limbs and, 2. ischemic heart diseases (IHD) (angina pectoris and myocardial infarction) caused by poor blood circulation inside the coronary artery of the heart. When the patientsŐ condition becomes severe and the disease reaches the critical stages, in addition to drug administration, the balloon-catheter treatment (therapy to form arteries by the insertion of a catheter into blood vessels) as well as bypass surgery are the usual solutions. These treatments, however, do not always ensure full recovery. The HGF genetic medicine is expected to be validated and to prove effective in such cases where no treatment was available other than amputating a lower limb. The aim is to offer a new revolutionary therapy in which the neogenesis of blood vessels will be possible with a simple injection.
<HGF
genetic medicine on peripheral arterial diseases>
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Before genetic medicine |
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After genetic medicine |
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