INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present work is to evaluate the efficacy and safety data used by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) between 1995 and June 2006 to approve new immunosuppressive drugs with indications in solid organ transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information about the approval of new agents was retrieved mainly from the European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) and Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) on the EMEA web site. The design, type of control, primary endpoints, duration of follow-up, and safety profile of pivotal trials were examined. RESULTS: Four immunosuppressive drugs belonging to three different therapeutic classes, with different clinical uses, were identified. Not all pivotal clinical trials compared the investigational agent with cyclosporin/corticosteroid/azathioprine triple therapy, which was the best therapeutic option available at the time of approval. Acute rejection, graft survival and efficacy failure at 6 months or 1 year post-transplant were the most frequent endpoints. Although some of the new agents reduce calcineurin inhibitor-associated nephrotoxicity, their adverse cardiovascular profile is of particular concern. DISCUSSION: Recent improvements in the short-term efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy make short-term outcome measures inadequate for predicting long-term clinical benefit. Clinical outcomes such as 3- or 5-year graft and patient survival should be used in clinical trials in order to take into account non-immunosuppressive-related morbidity and to assess better whether the therapeutic advantage of the new agents over standard therapy is maintained in the long term.
INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present work is to evaluate the efficacy and safety data used by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) between 1995 and June 2006 to approve new immunosuppressive drugs with indications in solid organ transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information about the approval of new agents was retrieved mainly from the European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) and Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) on the EMEA web site. The design, type of control, primary endpoints, duration of follow-up, and safety profile of pivotal trials were examined. RESULTS: Four immunosuppressive drugs belonging to three different therapeutic classes, with different clinical uses, were identified. Not all pivotal clinical trials compared the investigational agent with cyclosporin/corticosteroid/azathioprine triple therapy, which was the best therapeutic option available at the time of approval. Acute rejection, graft survival and efficacy failure at 6 months or 1 year post-transplant were the most frequent endpoints. Although some of the new agents reduce calcineurin inhibitor-associated nephrotoxicity, their adverse cardiovascular profile is of particular concern. DISCUSSION: Recent improvements in the short-term efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy make short-term outcome measures inadequate for predicting long-term clinical benefit. Clinical outcomes such as 3- or 5-year graft and patient survival should be used in clinical trials in order to take into account non-immunosuppressive-related morbidity and to assess better whether the therapeutic advantage of the new agents over standard therapy is maintained in the long term.