Mizoribine: Experimental and Clinical Experience

An immunosuppressant demonstrated to be a potent IMPDH inhibitor, mizoribine (MZR) was discovered in 1971 by scientists of Asahi Kasei Corporation in Ohito, Japan. Studies conducted in Japan have confirmed its clinical effectiveness and relative safety for the prevention of rejection in renal transplantation, and for the treatment of lupus nephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and nephrotic syndrome. MZR (trade name: Bredinin) was put on the market in 1984, and has been widely used for the aforesaid indications for 17 years, contributing to overall patient care. MZR offers outstanding clinical benefits in that after nearly two decades of use MZR has exhibited a low incidence of severe adverse drug reactions and no enhancement of oncogenicity.