Medical University of Vienna develops new treatment enabling kidney transplant for previously ineligible patient
An international research team led by the Medical University of Vienna has successfully enabled a kidney transplant for a highly sensitized 37-year-old patient using the cancer drug Teclistamab. The patient, who had a zero percent probability of finding a compatible organ and spent twelve years on the waiting list, underwent 31 weeks of therapy to reduce Human Leukocyte Antigen antibodies. This breakthrough could potentially be applied to xenotransplantation and post-transplant rejection treatments.
Teclistamab treatment for HLA desensitization
▪A patient underwent Teclistamab treatment for 31 weeks, achieving a substantial and sustained reduction in antibodies against tissue antigens.
▪An international research team led by the Medical University of Vienna used the cancer drug Teclistamab to reduce antibodies against potential transplants.
▪Teclistamab is a blood cancer drug that eliminates cells in the blood and bone marrow that produce antibodies against foreign structures.
HLA sensitization transplant barriers
▪Approximately 20 to 30 percent of patients on kidney donor waiting lists are affected by significant Human Leukocyte Antigen sensitization.
▪Human Leukocyte Antigen sensitization occurs when the immune system produces antibodies against tissue markers of potential donor organs, limiting organ availability.
▪Existing desensitization procedures to reduce antibodies prior to transplantation are only effective to a limited extent and for a short period.
Patient case transplant outcome
▪A 37-year-old dialysis-dependent patient had a calculated panel reactive antibody probability of zero for finding a compatible donor kidney.
▪The 37-year-old patient had been on the kidney transplant waiting list for more than twelve years following two previous kidney transplants.
▪Following 31 weeks of Teclistamab therapy, the 37-year-old patient received a successful kidney transplant and no longer requires dialysis.
Xenotransplantation future applications
▪The Teclistamab treatment strategy may also be applicable in blood-group-incompatible transplants.
▪Immunological results suggest the Teclistamab treatment strategy might be applicable in xenotransplantation, including transplanting organs from genetically modified pigs.
Antibody-mediated rejection treatment potential
▪The Medical University of Vienna is planning a study to systematically investigate the benefits and risks of the Teclistamab treatment strategy.
▪Researchers suggest the Teclistamab treatment could be extended to heart transplants and used post-transplant to treat antibody-mediated rejection reactions.
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