Therapeutic Candidate or Device

blood stem cells and T cells from organ transplant donors will be studied under this proposal to prevent rejection of kidney transplants

Indication

to withdraw immunosuppressant drugs from kidney transplant recipients

Therapeutic Mechanism

Injection of the donor blood stem cells into recipients will prevent recipient immune cells from rejecting the donor kidney transplant.

Unmet Medical Need

The proposed treatment eliminates the life long need of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent kidney transplant rejection. Immunosuppresive drugs increase the risks of cancer, infection, and heart disease.

Project Objective

Phase 1 trial completed

Major Proposed Activities

• Manufacture of the optimum donor cell product for injection into kidney transplant recipients
• Assess the clinical safety of the donor cell injection
• Assess the ability of the donor cell injection to eliminate the need for life long immunosuppressive drugs

The proposed research is designed to improve the health status of California citizens who have received kidney transplants. Transplant recipients currently need life long immunosuppressive drugs to prevent transplant rejection. Elimination of these drugs using donor blood stem cell injections will eliminate the need for these drugs and their attendant side effects and financial costs.