Photo/Illutration Male chimpanzee Shobo was cured of hepatitis C. (Provided by the Kumamoto Sanctuary)

For the first time, humans have repaid some of the massive debt owed to chimpanzees who have been used in clinical trials to develop drugs.

Scientists at Kyoto University’s Wildlife Research Center’s Kumamoto Sanctuary have succeeded in curing a chimpanzee with hepatitis C by using a drug developed for humans.

The cured chimpanzee is Shobo, a male believed to be 41 years old. He was exposed to the hepatitis C virus as part of an experiment, and the virus remained in his body.

The Kumamoto Sanctuary is the only facility of its kind in Japan where chimpanzees used in experiments by pharmaceutical companies and university research institutes can live out the rest of their lives.

Because the chimpanzees have been exposed to various viruses, scientists at the sanctuary considered treating eight primates who had persistent infections.

The sanctuary sought donations from September 2022 as the drug they were considering using was expensive. A goal of 4 million yen ($29,000) to treat one chimpanzee was set, but about 24 million yen was collected, which was enough to treat six of the primates.

From January, Shobo was given daily doses for eight weeks. The virus disappeared and he had improved liver function.

“While chimpanzees have contributed to the development of medicine, the primates have not been able to enjoy the benefits,” said Satoshi Hirata, a professor at the sanctuary. “I am simply overjoyed he was cured through donations and support.”

Curing the chimpanzee was likely a first in the world wherein the primate was treated solely to be cured rather than to develop pharmaceuticals for humans, Hirata said.

Hepatitis C was at one time considered incurable, but medicine was developed through animal experiments.

The sanctuary will provide the drug to other chimpanzees from this summer, and the results should be known by the autumn.

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