FDA Approves New Test to Monitor Level of Drug in Kidney Transplant Patients

The US Food and Drug Administration has revealed that it has approved a new test which will monitor the level of a drug which is used in kidney transplant patients to prevent the rejection of the transplanted organ by the body. The FDA had last year approved an everolimus drug, Zortress, which is manufactured by Novartis. The drug was effective in suppressing the immune system of a kidney transplant patient and prevent the rejected on the transplanted kidney.

However recent studies revealed that high levels of such drugs, also known as immunosuppressant, can be toxic to the body. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc came up with a new test that will monitor the levels of such immunosuppressant in the blood levels.

Known as QMS Everolimus Immunoassay, the test will help the doctors to monitor the level of Zortress in the blood stream. With the patients having to take the drug throughout their lives, the test is expected to provide an advance notice of building of immunosuppressant in the blood stream to the doctors and help them take preventive measures.



Source-Medindia