A new drug with the potential to treat fibrosis has been developed by Australian scientists, they have stated.

Staff from the University of Melbourne and tertiary referral centre St Vincent's Hospital noted that the medication has prevented the build-up of irreversible scarring on internal organs in animal trials, Agence France-Presse notes.

Called FT-11, the treatment would not avert diabetes, but could be effective in preventing complications such as heart or kidney disease, according to Professor Darren Kelly from the university.

He told the news provider: "It would be an enormous blockbuster drug ... We are hoping to delay or prevent those complications which would basically keep those patients off dialysis - which would have a huge benefit for their lifestyle."

Continuing, Professor Kelly noted that approximately 45 per cent of diseases in the developed world could be associated with some form of pathological fibrosis.

It is expected that the drug will be tested in clinical trials on 30 patients within a year.

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