The present invention relates to the use, for the preparation of drugs to increase the survival rate of transplant patients, including renal and heart transplant patients, of a therapeutically effective amount of an angiotension II receptor antagonist compound, such as the class of substituted imidazoles represented by formula (I) and in particular by losartan potassium, 2-butyl-4-chloro-[(2'-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-il]methyl]-5-(hydroxymethyl )imidazole potassium salt.
Disclosed are compounds of formula (I) ##STR00001## which inhibit production of cytokines involved in inflammatory processes and are thus useful for treating diseases and pathological conditions involving inflammation such as chronic inflammatory disease. Also disclosed are processes for preparing these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.
