Abraxis BioScience Inc.

The kidneys are bean-shaped organs about the size of a fist that are located in the middle of the back on either side of the spine. A normal healthy person has two kidneys which maintain the appropriate percentage of cells, ions, and water content of the blood.

Specifically, the kidneys maintain a constant volume of water in the body and maintain the acid/base balance (pH) of the blood, which is needed to keep normal healthy cells functioning. The kidneys also are involved in adjusting blood pressure and producing red blood cells. Although the kidneys are relatively small organs of the body, they receive almost 20% of the blood flow to filter and clean the blood.

The kidneys can become damaged from illness, high blood pressure, or congenital diseases. In such situations, the kidneys cannot filter and clean the blood, make red blood cells, or maintain blood pressure and ion concentration. When kidneys are diseased, patients often require hemodialysis to remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood. Patients requiring hemodialysis often have a graft placed in the renal artery. Grafts can cause thickening of the blood wall, leading to narrowing of the artery.

Drug therapies are currently being developed by Abraxis that work with angioplasty to keep the arteries open.