Experiments are being conducted to apply state-of-the-art medical technology, including gene therapy, on pets suffering from such common human diseases as diabetes and hay fever.
Professor Hideki Taniguchi at Yokohama City University has been conducting regenerative therapy tests for the treatment of diabetic pets.
"I have no idea when (regenerative therapy) will come to be applied to the treatment of human diabetes sufferers," Taniguchi said. "But when it comes to pets, it will be put into practical use after five years."
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