Thymoglobulin, a drug that could prevent organ loss for kidney transplant recipients experiencing acute rejection, is marketed by SangStat in both the US and Europe. A total of 26 Thymoglobulin abstracts were accepted for presentation at this major transplant meeting.
Acute rejection can often lead to the loss of the transplanted organ.
Common adverse reactions, which are often transient, include fever, infections, and thrombocytopenia. Thymoglobulin is contraindicated in patients with known allergy to rabbit proteins, an acute viral illness, or a history of anaphylaxis during rabbit immunoglobulin administration. Thymoglobulin should only be used by physicians experienced in immunosuppressive therapy in the management of renal transplant patients. In Europe, Thymoglobulin is the reference antibody therapy in transplant recipients. Prior to its launch in the US the drug had already been used in more than 40,000 patients in 54 European and other countries.