Researchers reporting on a multi-center study say a relatively new immunosuppressive drug, Rapamune, has enabled them to wean kidney transplant patients off cyclosporine with "no significant increase in rejection rates and significantly improved renal function in patients."

Rapamune was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1999 for use in along with long-time immunosuppressive mainstay cyclosporine in kidney transplant recipients.

"One of the disappointing paradoxes of kidney transplantation has always been that the standard therapy used to prevent kidney rejection (cyclosporine) can actually damage the new kidney, resulting in the need for a new transplant," said Dr. Donald E. Hricik, lead investigator at Case Western Reserve University, one of 17 U.S. and European centers participating in the study.

"Rapamune offers a solution to that paradox by maintaining healthy kidney function while preventing organ rejection," Hricik told professionals attending the scientific meeting Transplant 2001 in Chicago.

The year-long study compared two groups of patients. Approximately half of the 197 participants received Rapamune and cyclosporine, and the other half received Rapamune with cyclosporine eliminated three months after transplant.

Patients in the study who were weaned off cyclosporine three months after transplants had significantly better kidney function several months later than patients who remained on cyclosporine, the researchers said. Both groups had similarly low rejection rates.

"Rapamune as base therapy reduced the risk of kidney damage -- and the need for another transplant," Hricik reported.

Other Sources: Transplant 2001