Novartis halts kidney transplant drug trial

pharmafile | September 3, 2021 | News story | Medical Communications  

Novartis has announced that trials investigating CFZ533 (iscalimab) in kidney transplant patients has been halted after interim data show it is not as effective as tacrolimus-based treatment in preventing organ rejection.

The CIRRUS-1 study has been discontinued, but CFZ533 will be continued to be investigated in liver transplants and as a potential treatment in other conditions.

In a statement Novartis said: “The analysis indicated that CFZ533 (iscalimab)-based treatment is less efficacious compared to tacrolimus-based treatment in the prevention of organ rejection in patients receiving a kidney transplant.

“Both CFZ533 and tacrolimus were used in combination with other immunosuppressive therapies (induction therapy, mycophenolate and corticosteroids).

“Study of CFZ533 in liver transplant continues, as do studies exploring CFZ533 as a potential treatment in other conditions, such as hidradenitis suppurativa and Sjögren’s syndrome.”

Continued analysis of data from the CIRRUS-1 study is underway, and Novartis have said the data will be shared with the wider scientific community once the results are ready.

Kat Jenkins 

Related Content

No items found

Latest content