title: Targets of new immunosuppressants in renal transplantation.
abstract: Although current immunosuppression is highly effective in avoiding acute rejection, it is associated with nephrotoxicity, cardiovascular morbidity, infection, and cancer. Thus, new drugs dealing with new mechanisms, as well as minimizing comorbidities, are warranted in renal transplantation. Few novel drugs are currently under investigation in Phase I, II, or III clinical trials. Belatacept is a humanized antibody that inhibits T-cell co-stimulation and has shown encouraging results in Phase II and III trials. Moreover, two new small molecules are under clinical development: AEB071 or sotrastaurin (a protein kinase C inhibitor) and CP-690550 or tasocitinib (a Janus kinase inhibitor). Refinement in selecting the best combinations for the new and current immunosuppressive agents is probably the main challenge for the next few years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cruzado
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bestard
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Melilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grinyó
keywords: belatacept; immunosuppression; renal transplantation; sotrastaurin; tasocitinib