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    Genentech is partnering with the German cancer company Affimed to develop immunotherapies for multiple kinds of solid and blood cancers. Affimed is developing therapies that engage natural killer cells of the innate immune system to help direct them to attack cancer cells. Genentech will pay Affimed $96 million up front and up to $5 billion more in potential payments.
    The adoption of de novo belatacept in kidney transplant (kTx) recipients was hampered by an increased risk of acute cellular rejection (ACR) with variation in adopted belatacept based immunosuppressive therapies across centers. We used data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) to evaluate the temporal trends in belatacept use and describe the associated induction and maintenance regimens in US adult kTx recipients transplanted between June 2011 and December 2018. The number of patients receiving de novo-belatacept based immunosuppressive therapy increased from .74% in 2011 to 3.11% in 2016. In 2016, 66/207 centers used de novo belatacept-based regimen with 3.03% using it in over 50% of their patients. The use of T-cell depleting agents increased with time. Since 2012, the rate of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) use in combination with belatacept remained stable around 50% and ∼30% remained under belatacept/CNI combination at 1-year post-transplantation. The adoption of belatacept as de novo immunosuppressive regimen has been slow and its use remains low in the United States. Various regimens have been used to modulate the risk of ACR. Further studies evaluating the long-term outcomes of these regimens and assessing their safety especially with regard to the risk of infection are needed.
    Belatacept
    Regimen
    Abatacept
    Immunosuppression
    Citations (11)
    Belatacept is the first costimulatory blockade agent clinically approved for transplant immunosuppression. Although more than 10 years of study have demonstrated that belatacept offers superior long-term renal allograft and patient survival compared to conventional calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppression regimens, the clinical adoption of belatacept has continued to lag because of concerns of an early risk of acute cellular rejection (ACR) and various logistical barriers to its administration. In this review, the history of the clinical development of belatacept is examined, along with the findings of the seminal BENEFIT and BENEFIT-EXT trials culminating in the clinical approval of belatacept. Recent efforts to incorporate belatacept into novel CNI-free immunosuppression regimens are reviewed, as well as the experience of the Emory Transplant Center in using a tapered course of low-dose tacrolimus in belatacept-treated renal allograft patients to garner the long-term outcome benefits of belatacept without the short-term increased risks of ACR. Potential avenues to increase the clinical adoption of belatacept in the future are explored, including surmounting the logistical barriers of belatacept administration through subcutaneous administration or more infrequent belatacept dosing. In addition, belatacept conversion strategies and potential expanded clinical indications of belatacept are discussed for pediatric transplant recipients, extrarenal transplant recipients, treatment of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), and in patients with failed renal allografts. Finally, we discuss the novel immunosuppressive drugs currently in the development pipeline that may aid in the expansion of costimulation blockade utilization.
    Belatacept
    Immunosuppression
    Abatacept
    In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration approved belatacept (Nulojix; Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA) for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult kidney transplant recipients. This review will discuss the use of belatacept for the prevention of acute rejection as part of a maintenance immunosuppression regimen.Belatacept is a selective costimulation blocker designed to provide effective immunosuppression while avoiding the toxicities associated with calcineurin inhibitors. Phase 3 trial data have demonstrated that belatacept is noninferior to cyclosporine in 1-year patient and allograft survival. Three-year data demonstrate an ongoing improvement in mean measured glomerular filtration rate in belatacept-treated versus cyclosporine-treated patients. Overall, there seemed to be an improvement in cardiometabolic parameters in patients treated with belatacept compared with cyclosporine. There was a trend toward higher rates of early rejection episodes in patients treated with belatacept. One safety issue that must be considered when using belatacept is the potential for increased risk of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease, especially in Epstein-Barr virus-seronegative recipients or patients treated with lymphocyte-depleting agents.Belatacept is the first new agent available in kidney transplant that may achieve the goal of improved long-term renal function.
    Belatacept
    Immunosuppression
    Regimen
    Abatacept
    In June 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration approved belatacept for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult kidney transplant recipients. This review discusses the use of belatacept for the prevention of acute rejection as part of a maintenance immunosuppression regimen. Belatacept is a selective costimulation blocker designed to provide effective immunosuppression while avoiding the toxicities associated with calcineurin inhibitors. Phase III trial data have demonstrated that belatacept is noninferior to cyclosporine in 1-year patient and allograft survival. Three-year data demonstrate an ongoing improvement in mean measured glomerular filtration rate in belatacept-treated versus cyclosporine-treated patients. However, the rate of acute rejection was higher in belatacept-treated patients compared with cyclosporine. Specifically, there was a higher incidence of Banff type II rejections in patients treated with belatacept. Despite the higher Banff grade, rejections on belatacept were not associated with other factors associated with poor outcomes, such as the development of donor-specific antibodies or reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate. One safety issue that must be considered when using belatacept is the potential for increased risk of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. There were more cases of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease in belatacept-treated patients, especially in recipients seronegative for Epstein-Barr virus or patients treated with lymphocyte-depleting agents. Therefore, belatacept can be recommended for use in Epstein-Barr virus antibody-positive recipients.
    Belatacept
    Immunosuppression
    Abatacept
    Regimen
    Citations (14)
    Background. Costimulatory blockade with belatacept has demonstrated long-term benefits in renal transplantation, but de novo use in liver transplant recipients has resulted in increased rejection, graft loss, and death. However, belatacept conversion as a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) avoidance strategy has not been studied and may be of benefit in liver transplantation where CNI-induced renal dysfunction and toxicity are barriers to improved outcomes. Methods. Using clinical data extracted from our institutional medical record, we report on 8 patients who underwent kidney after liver transplantation and were treated with belatacept-based immunosuppression and transient CNI therapy. Results. All patients tolerated belatacept therapy without any patient deaths or graft losses. No episodes of rejection, de novo donor-specific antibody formation, or major systemic infections were observed, and all patients demonstrated preserved liver and excellent renal allograft function. Patients received belatacept for a median duration of 13.2 mo, and at a median follow-up of 15.9 mo post–kidney transplant, 6 of 8 patients continued on belatacept with 3 completely off and 3 poised to transition off CNI. Conclusions. These findings are the first evidence that in liver transplant recipients requiring subsequent kidney transplantation, belatacept-based therapy can potentially facilitate CNI-free maintenance immunosuppression. This supports the possibility of belatacept conversion in stand-alone liver transplant recipients as a viable method of CNI avoidance.
    Belatacept
    Immunosuppression
    The nationally-recognized Susquehanna Chorale will delight audiences of all ages with a diverse mix of classic and contemporary pieces. The ChoraleAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚¢AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚€AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚™s performances have been described as AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚¢AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚€AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚œemotionally unfiltered, honest music making, successful in their aim to make the audience feel, to be moved, to be part of the performance - and all this while working at an extremely high musical level.AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚¢AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚€AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ Experience choral singing that will take you to new heights!
    Citations (0)
    Introduction: Since the approval of belatacept in 2011 for use in the setting of de novo kidney transplantation, this CD80/86 – CD28 co-stimulation blocker has been shown to be a valuable treatment option for maintenance immunosuppression.Areas covered: In this setting, belatacept has been associated with superior glomerular filtration rate as compared to calcineurin inhibitor-based treatments because of the absence of nephrotoxicity. Additionally, belatacept avoids the cardiovascular side effects (e.g. hypertension and dyslipidemia) caused by a CNI-based-regimen. Nevertheless, belatacept-treated recipients have a higher rate of acute rejections and a higher risk of lymphoproliferative disorders.Expert opinion: Data suggest a benefit from early conversion vs. late conversion of belatacept in a conversion setting following CNI-related toxicity. Randomized studies are currently comparing belatacept to tacrolimus, instead of cyclosporine, as was done in the Belatacept Evaluation of Nephroprotection and Efficacy as a First-line Immunosuppression Trial (BENEFIT). The benefits and limitations of belatacept seem to be the same when tacrolimus is used instead of cyclosporine.Finally, we also report in this review on the immunological data available so far that explain belatacept's limitations and the higher rate of acute rejection. The goal is to find the optimal immunosuppressive strategy to improve efficacy and safety at post-transplantation.
    Belatacept
    Immunosuppression
    Abatacept
    CIITA
    Most immunosuppressive regimens used in clinical vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) have been calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based. As such, most recipients have experienced CNI-related side effects. Costimulation blockade, specifically CD28/B7 inhibition with belatacept, has emerged as a clinical replacement for CNI-based immunosuppression in kidney transplantation. We have previously shown that belatacept can be used as a centerpiece immunosuppressant for VCA in nonhuman primates, and subsequently reported successful conversion from a CNI-based regimen to a belatacept-based regimen after clinical hand transplantation. We now report on the case of a hand transplant recipient, whom we have successfully treated with a de novo belatacept-based regimen, transitioned to a CNI–free regimen. This case demonstrates that belatacept can provide sufficient prophylaxis from rejection without chronic CNI-associated side effects, a particularly important goal in nonlifesaving solid organ transplants such as VCA. Most immunosuppressive regimens used in clinical vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) have been calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based. As such, most recipients have experienced CNI-related side effects. Costimulation blockade, specifically CD28/B7 inhibition with belatacept, has emerged as a clinical replacement for CNI-based immunosuppression in kidney transplantation. We have previously shown that belatacept can be used as a centerpiece immunosuppressant for VCA in nonhuman primates, and subsequently reported successful conversion from a CNI-based regimen to a belatacept-based regimen after clinical hand transplantation. We now report on the case of a hand transplant recipient, whom we have successfully treated with a de novo belatacept-based regimen, transitioned to a CNI–free regimen. This case demonstrates that belatacept can provide sufficient prophylaxis from rejection without chronic CNI-associated side effects, a particularly important goal in nonlifesaving solid organ transplants such as VCA.
    Belatacept
    Immunosuppression
    Regimen
    Allotransplantation
    Abatacept
    Citations (25)