Combinations of immunosupressive agents for the treatment or prevention of graft rejections

Abstract

A pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment or prevention of transgenic xenograft rejection comprising immunosuppressant compounds selected from the group consisting of an IL-2 transcription inhibitor and immunosuppressant compounds that immunosuppress for B-cell-mediated or antibody-mediated rejection of xenografts, and pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers, and a method of preventing hyperacute rejection, reducing early graft damage, improving early xenograft function and promoting long term survival of said transgenic xenografts comprising the steps of i) contacting the body fluid removed from a human recipient with a xenoantigenic material which is bound to a biocompatible solid support, ii) reintroducing the treated body fluid into the recipient, and iii) treating the recipient with said pharmaceutical composition.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A Method of reducing early graft damage, improving early xenograft function or promoting long term survival of xenografts of a transgenic organ in human recipients comprising the steps of: 
 (i) exposing body fluid removed from a human recipient with a xenoantigenic material or anti-human mono- or polyclonal antibodies or another antibody adsorbent, which is bound to a biocompatible solid support;    (ii) reintroducing the treated body fluid into the human recipient, and    (iii) treating the human recipient with a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least two immunosuppressant compounds selected from the group consisting of (a) IL-2 transcription inhibitors and (b) immunosuppressant compounds that immunosuppress for B-cell-mediated or antibody-mediated rejection of xenografts.    
     
     
         8 . A method for reducing early graft damage, improving early xenograft function or promoting long term survival of xenografts of an organ transgenic for hDAF in human recipients comprising the steps of: 
 (i) exposing body fluid removed from a human recipient with a xenoantigenic material or anti-human mono- or polyclonal antibodies or another antibody adsorbent, which is bound to a biocompatible solid support;    (ii) reintroducing the treated body fluid into the human recipient, and    (iii) treating the human recipient with a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least two immunosuppressant compounds selected from the group consisting of (a) IL-2 transcription inhibitors and (b) immunosuppressant compounds that immunosuppress for B-cell-mediated or antibody-mediated rejection of xenografts.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the steps (i) and (ii) are conducted postoperatively and in parallel with treatment with the pharmaceutical composition.