Medical University of Vienna's New Drug Teclistamab Enables Kidney Transplant in Highly Sensitized Patient

Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna reported that the cancer‑drug Teclistamab, previously used to treat multiple myeloma, was applied for 31 weeks in a 37‑year‑old patient with severe HLA sensitisation after two prior kidney transplants. The therapy achieved a substantial and lasting reduction of antibodies against potential donor organs, a result not possible with existing desensitisation methods. As a consequence, a compatible kidney could be identified and successfully transplanted, and the patient now has excellent kidney function without the need for dialysis.

The authors, Georg Böhmig and Martina Schatzl, suggest that the approach could broaden transplant options for patients with high immunological barriers and may be applicable to xenotransplantation or ABO‑incompatible grafts, but they stress that additional clinical studies are required before routine use.