Unregistered User If this is not your name, click here.
		Contact Us | Order Now | Journals | Bookstore | Register a colleague
	Select a ChannelAcneAIDS and HIVAllergy OtherAlzheimer'sAnaesthesiology OtherAngina Pectoris/MIAnxietyArthritis OtherAsthmaBack PainBacterial InfectionsBladder CancerBone Marrow TransplantationBreast CancerCardiology OtherCataractCell TransplantationCervical CancerCholesterol/Lipid disordersCirrhosisClinical PharmacologyColorectal CancerCongestive Heart FailureContact DermatitisContraceptionCOPDCystic FibrosisDental and Oral DisordersDepressionDermatology OtherDiabetesDialysisEating DisordersElbowEmergency MedicineEndocrinology OtherEpilepsyErectile DysfunctionFibromyalgiaGastro OtherGeneticsGenitourinary OtherGeriatricsGERD/GastritisGlaucomaH. Pylori/UlcerHaematology OtherHair LossHeadachesHepa/Biliary OtherHepatitisHipHRTHypertensionIBDImmunologyInfectious OtherInfertilityIntensive CareIrritable Bowel SyndromeKneeLeukemiasLiver CancerLung CancerLupusLymphomasMelanomaMenopauseMultiple Sclerosis Nephrology OtherNeurologic OtherNutritional / Metabolic OtherOb/Gyn OtherObesityOncology OtherOphth. OtherOphthalmic SurgeryOrgan TransplantationOrthopaedics OtherOsteoarthritisOsteoporosisOtitisOtorhino. OtherOvarian CancerPaediatricsPainPancreatic CancerParkinson'sPregnancyProstate CancerPsychiatry OtherPulmonary OtherRadiologyRenal CancerRenal FailureRespiratory InfectionsRheumatoid arthritisRheumatology OtherRhinitisSchizophreniaShoulderSleep ApnoeaSleep DisordersSpineStrokeSTDsSurgeryThyroid DisordersTransfusionTransplant Surgery OtherTraumaUrinary IncontinenceUrinary tract infectionsVaccinologyVascular DisordersViral Infections

SEARCH   News Bookstore Medline The Web Meetings & Congresses Complete Doctor's Guide    EXPLORE :    All News   All Webcasts   All Cases   All Meetings & Congresses   All Medical Resources New drugs / indications English Dictionary Medical Dictionary Thesaurus Warning | Privacy | Awards  Favourite Journals  Click here to choose your favourite journals  Favourite Sites  Click here to choose your favourite sites  Languages  Select languageEnglishFrançais

Hope for Kidney Transplant Patients of Improved Graft Survival New data show CellCept® significantly improves kidney function when replacing cyclosporine WASHINGTON, DC -- April 29, 2002 -- Results presented at the American Transplant Congress from a study on kidney transplant patients with deteriorating kidney function show that the use of the immunosuppressant CellCept® (mycophenolate mofetil, MMF) allows for the safe withdrawal of cyclosporine, resulting in a significant improvement in the patient’s kidney function. Cyclosporine therapy has long been the mainstay of immunosuppressive treatment in renal transplantation despite its known toxic effect on kidney function, which can cause kidney failure and transplant loss. CellCept, a newer immunosuppressant drug, is non-kidney toxic and the study set out to discover whether the use of CellCept could effectively replace cyclosporine and result in an improved function of the damaged kidney. Kidney function can be assessed by the rate at which it removes creatinine, a waste product generated from muscle metabolism. In kidney transplant patients treated long-term, on going kidney damage is characterized by progressively increasing serum creatinine levels ("creeping creatinine"). The results of this study presented today show that 58% of patients on CellCept therapy without cyclosporine had a reversal or stabilisation of their kidney function compared to 32% of patients who continued on cyclosporine, as measured by decreasing serum creatinine levels. CellCept has been shown to have a non-kidney toxicity profile 1 compared to other immunosuppressants and this allows for improved kidney function whilst minimising the risk of organ rejection. "The results are very encouraging," said key investigator Dr Christopher Dudley, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, England. "We have suspected that continued use of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) immunosuppressant therapies (such as cyclosporine), in chronically damaged kidneys may contribute to progressive kidney failure." Dr Dudley continued, "By offering safe strategies to reduce the use of drugs toxic to the kidney the long term survival of the transplanted organ can be improved. These data suggest that CellCept is one such strategy to help patients to retain their transplanted kidneys longer. These are important findings." Study Details These results come from an on-going study being conducted amongst 143 patients who have received a kidney transplant but are showing signs of deteriorating kidney function. All the patients were on an immunosuppressant regimen, which included cyclosporine. Following entry in the study patients were randomized to treatment with CellCept and cyclosporine withdrawal (n=73), or to continue treatment with cyclosporine (n=70) over a 34-week period. Roche in Transplantation Roche is strongly committed to improving the long-term outcomes of transplantation and enhancing the quality of life of transplant recipients. Roche has developed three innovative therapies that improve graft and post-transplant health: CellCept is the cornerstone of low toxicity immunosuppressant therapies. CellCept is the largest selling branded immunosuppressive in North America, offers both physicians and patients the possibility of an effective long term immunosuppressive regimen with low toxicity, Zenapax prevents the acute rejection of the newly transplanted organ, and Cymevene/Cytovene/Valcyte has been developed for the prevention and treatment of cytomegalovirus, a dangerous viral infection associated with transplantation. Recently, Roche have announced a co-development agreement with Isotechnika for their new medicine, ISATx 247, a potentially more potent and less toxic calcineurin inhibitor. In addition, Roche supports basic research in transplantation with its funding of the independent Roche Or n Transplantation Research Fund (ROTRF), which directly supports innovative research projects attracting new researchers with innovative and novel scientific ideas to meet unmet medical needs in solid organ transplantation. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-oriented healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and vitamins. Roche’s innovative products and services address needs for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, thus enhancing people’s well being and quality of life. ~ Ends ~ Danowitch G. Transplantation Reviews (2000) 14: 65-81. All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally protected. For further information please contact: Julia Pipe International Communications Manager, Transplant F Hoffman La Roche Mobile Tel: +41 79 263 9715 Office Tel: +41 61 687 4376 Email: julia.pipe@roche.com Roana Mahmud Ketchum Healthcare, London Office Tel: +44 20 7611 3592 Email: roana.mahmud@ketchum.com SOURCE: Roche E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version