3C study of Campath for Transplant Rejection published in The Lancet-Sanofi/Genzyme

Results of the 3C study of Campath - Calcineurin inhibitor reduction and Chronic allograft nephropathy - (alemtuzumab), from Sanofi/Genzyme, which tested whether the anti-rejection treatment partnered with low dose tacrolimus (a calcineurin inhibitor) could reduce Transplant Rejection when compared with existing treatment, have been published in The Lancet. The study recruited 852 patients who underwent kidney transplantation in the UK between 2010 and 2013. Among those allocated alemtuzumab-based induction therapy, 7.3% experienced acute rejection compared to 16.0% of those allocated basiliximab-based induction therapy � a halving in the risk of early rejection.

Although alemtuzumab has been available for many years, its use has been limited by concerns about possible side effects, in particular infections. But no overall excess in serious side effects � such as infections and cancer � was found in patients on the treatment, the scientists report. See: "Alemtuzumab-based induction treatment versus basiliximab-based induction treatment in kidney transplantation (the 3C Study): a randomised trial," The Lancet online, July 28, 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61095-3