Review
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Transplant. Dec 24, 2013; 3(4): 68-77
Published online Dec 24, 2013. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v3.i4.68
Novel immunosuppressive agents in kidney transplantation
Karen L Hardinger, Daniel C Brennan
Karen L Hardinger, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
Daniel C Brennan, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
Author contributions: All authors have made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, and final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Karen L Hardinger, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Rm 2241, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States. hardingerk@umkc.edu
Telephone: +1-816-2769023 Fax: +1-816-2764751
Received: June 28, 2013
Revised: August 26, 2013
Accepted: October 16, 2013
Published online: December 24, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: Many new agents are being studied that may improve outcomes after renal transplantation. Potential improvements to the calcineurin inhibitor class include a recently Food and Drug Administration approved, prolonged release tacrolimus formulation and voclosporin, a cyclosporine analog. A novel, fully-human anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody, ASKP1240, is currently enrolling patients in phase 2 trials with calcineurin minimization and avoidance regimens. Novel treatments for antibody mediated rejection include bortezomib and eculizumab.