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Biotech / Medical : Novoste (novt)
NOVT 111.14-6.6%3:59 PM EST
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To: TwoBear who wrote (94)1/18/2001 8:31:00 PM
From: Oak Tree   of 100
 
You're correct rapamycin is a bacterial product that nominally is in the category of antimetabolite and immunosuppressive. Of course chemotherapies are often antimetaobites and immunosuppressive (for example adriamycin, actinomycin, ...) Some plant products are also in that category (Taxol). The exact mechanism of action of rapamycin is unknown. Its half-life however is not that long. It appears to be real good at knocking out T-cells. I really can't tell if its killing them or just desensitizing them. The effect seems to be prolonged even compared to chemotherapy. I don't think anyone has yet looked to see if it is antiangiogenic, thus expliing the prevention of restenosis.

Obviously, it usually isn't good to desensitize T-cells (thats what AIDS is about). Interesting drug however. Still, the amount of drug that can be put on a stent is necessarily only a few molecules. The problem of candy wrapper still will occur since the drug can't possibly treat the margins on the proximal and distal ends of the stent.
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