C1 Inhibitor Effective In Preventing AMR Following Kidney Transplantation: Pharming Group

In the published study, Gilles Blancho and colleagues from the Institute of Transplantation – Urology – Nephrology (ITUN) in Nantes, France, have demonstrated that Pharming’s rhC1INH prevented AMR in a baboon AMR model by blocking the activation of the classical complement system in the treated animals, whereas untreated animals developed AMR by the second day following transplantation.

The results indicated that the classical complement pathway was effectively inhibited during treatment as evidenced by the lack of specific complement deposition in the kidney, which is also the hallmark of AMR in humans.

The results also confirmed the group’s earlier positive findings with rhC1INH at inhibiting cytotoxicity. These results are published in Kidney International (advance online publication, 24 March 2010) by Dr Tillou et al.

Gilles Blancho said: “The data we observed in this stringent model of AMR suggest that rhC1INH may be even more efficient in less severe experimental or clinical situations. AMR remains an unsolved issue in transplantation and rhC1INH could be an effective complementary treatment for this challenging problem.”

Bruno Giannetti, COO of Pharming, said: “These results support the significant potential for rhC1INH in antibody-mediated rejection, which is a serious transplantation complication. Earlier this year, preclinical evidence was published indicating rhC1INH could also be effective in preventing delayed graft function following kidney transplantation. We intend to initiate clinical studies in patients for both of these indications later this year.”