Long-term administration of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS; myfortic) is safe in kidney transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: To date, there are no data on long-term use of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS; myfortic) from time of renal transplantation. We report the first long-term safety and efficacy data on EC-MPS when administered for up to 3 years post transplant.

METHODS: De novo renal transplant recipients completing 1 year of treatment in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial of EC-MPS versus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were invited to take part in an open-label extension during which all patients received EC-MPS 720 mg b.i.d. Results from the period 12 - 36 months post transplant were compared to comparable data from MMF-treated patients taking part in two studies of everolimus versus MMF (RAD 201 and RAD 251).

RESULTS: Of 367 patients completing the blinded core study, 247(62%) entered the open-label extension phase. During the first 24 months of the extension, the incidence, type and severity of adverse events were comparable between the newly-exposed and long-term EC-MPS patients. There were 2 deaths in the newly-exposed group and 4 among long-term EC-MPS patients, with 1 and 2 graft losses, respectively. Six patients (5%) in the newly-exposed group and 4 (3%) in the long-term EC-MPS group experienced biopsy-proven acute rejection. Cross-study comparisons indicated that the tolerability profile of EC-MPS was similar to MMF, including the incidence of adverse events, infections and malignancies, as was the incidence of efficacy events.

CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that EC-MPS with cyclosporine and steroids provides good long-term efficacy and tolerability, and confirm the safety of converting renal transplant patients from MMF to EC-MPS.