An anti-cancer drug that suppresses the immune system is the first drug that has been proved to alleviate the most devastating effects of scleroderma, a disease of the connecting tissues and lungs.

Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disease involving an overproduction of the protein collagen. Linear scleroderma usually begins as a streak of hardened, waxy, discolored skin on the forehead, an arm, ...