Post-transplant Combo Can Replace Toxic Immune-suppressing Drugs In Monkeys
Friday, July 31, 2009 - 02:22
in Health & Medicine
A combination of costimulation blockers and alefacept can replace calcineurin inhibitors, the mainstay drugs given to transplant patients, in preventing graft rejection after kidney transplants in monkeys. The finding opens the door to less-toxic post-transplant treatment for humans that could be administered once a week. Costimulation blockers target immune cells without the predominant side effects of conventional transplant drugs. Alefacept subdues T cells responsible for immunological memory.