Experimental immunosuppressant drug lauded

ATLANTA, Aug 24, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- An international study suggests the drug belatacept, still under evaluation, preserves transplanted kidney function as effectively as cyclosporine.

At the same time, the researchers said belatacept avoids many of the toxic side effects that adversely affect kidney function, blood pressure and cholesterol levels of patients undergoing long-term anti-rejection therapy with immunosuppressant drugs.

Lead authors Dr. Christian Larsen of Emory University School of Medicine and Dr. Flavio Vincenti of the University of California-San Francisco wrote:

"The results of this study on the safety and effectiveness of belatacept were as good as we could hope for from the first trial of this new class of drugs in human transplant recipients. This arguably is among the most important new classes of immunosuppressive drugs to be evaluated since cyclosporine was introduced more than 20 years ago."

More than 23,000 organ transplants are performed each year in the United States.

The findings from a Phase II clinical trial of belatacept, conducted in 218 patients at 22 centers in the United States, Canada and Europe are detailed in the Aug. 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.