New approaches to prevent transplant rejection: Co-stimulation blockers anti-CD40L and CTLA4Ig

Life-long immunosuppressive drug therapy is required after organ transplantation to prevent immunological rejection. Outcome after transplantation remains limited by the severe side effects and incomplete efficacy associated with currently available immunosuppressants. The co-stimulation blockers anti-CD40L and CTLA4Ig are members of a new, promising class of biologicals which are currently under development as immunosuppressants. Selected co-stimulation blockers have the potential to eventually replace current therapies to become the new standard of immunosuppression after organ transplantation.

Section editors:Claudine Bruck – GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, USAMichel Goldman – University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium