The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new medicine called Cellcept (mycophenolate mofetil) to help prevent organ rejection in people who have received a kidney, heart, or liver transplant. Organ rejection happens when the body's immune system attacks the new organ. Cellcept works by calming down certain immune cells, making it less likely that the body will reject the transplant. It is meant to be used along with other immunosuppressant drugs, which are medicines that lower the immune system's activity.
Cellcept is approved for adults and for children as young as 3 months old. The dose depends on the type of transplant and the patient's age or body size. For example, adults with a kidney transplant typically take 1 gram twice a day, while those with a heart or liver transplant may take 1.5 grams twice a day. The medicine comes as a pill or as an intravenous (IV) form given in a hospital.
The approval was based on studies that showed fewer episodes of acute rejection in transplant patients who took Cellcept compared to those who did not. Acute rejection is a sudden attack on the organ that can happen soon after surgery. Preventing it is important for the long-term health of the transplant.
Like all immunosuppressants, Cellcept has risks. It can increase the chance of infections, lower blood cell counts (especially white blood cells), and cause stomach problems. Doctors will monitor patients closely, especially for neutropenia, a condition where there are too few infection-fighting white blood cells. If you or a loved one are considering this medicine, talk to your doctor about whether it is right for you and what side effects to watch for.
