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Avoidance of CNI and steroids using belatacept—Results of the Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation 16 trial
Author(s) -
Man Roslyn B.,
Armstrong Brian,
Stock Peter G.,
Mehta Aneesh K.,
Farris Alton B.,
Watson Natasha,
Morrison Yvonne,
Sarwal Minnie,
Sigdel Tara,
Bridges Nancy,
Robien Mark,
Newell Kenneth A.,
Larsen Christian P.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/ajt.16152
Subject(s) - belatacept , calcineurin , medicine , tacrolimus , immunosuppression , clinical trial , transplantation , kidney transplantation , randomized controlled trial , organ transplantation , maintenance therapy , adverse effect , urology , kidney transplant , chemotherapy
Immunosuppression devoid of corticosteroids has been investigated to avoid long‐term comorbidities. Likewise, alternatives to calcineurin inhibitors have been investigated as a strategy to improve long‐term kidney function following transplanion. Costimulatory blockade strategies that include corticosteroids have recently shown promise, despite their higher rates of early acute rejection. We designed a randomized clinical trial utilizing depletional induction therapy to mitigate early rejection risk while limiting calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids. This trial, Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation 16 (CTOT‐16), sought to evaluate novel belatacept‐based strategies employing tacrolimus and corticosteroid avoidance. Sixty‐nine kidney transplant recipients were randomized from 4 US transplant centers comparing a control group of with rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) induction, rapid steroid taper, and maintenance mycophenolate and tacrolimus, to 2 arms using maintenance belatacept. There were no graft losses but there were 2 deaths in the control group. However, the trial was halted early because of rejection in the belatacept treatment groups. Serious adverse events were similar across groups. Although rejection was not uniform in the belatacept maintenance therapy groups, the frequency of rejection limits the practical implementation of this strategy to avoid both calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids at this time.