Eledon Pharmaceuticals Announces Use of Tegoprubart in First-ever Transplant of Genetically Modified Kidney from a Pig to a Human

Historic kidney xenotransplantation procedure conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital

Tegoprubart administration has now been used investigationally to prevent rejection in both kidney and heart pig-to-human xenotransplantations, as well as in human-to-human kidney transplantation

Eledon recently presented results from its ongoing Phase 1b kidney transplantation study which demonstrated that tegoprubart was generally safe and well tolerated and successfully prevented rejection with post-transplant kidney function above historical averages

IRVINE, Calif., March 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Eledon”) (NASDAQ: ELDN) today announced that tegoprubart, the company’s investigational anti-CD40L antibody, was used as a component of the immunosuppressive treatment regimen following the first-ever transplant of a kidney from a genetically modified pig to a human. The procedure was completed on March 16, 2024, at Massachusetts General Hospital on a 62-year-old man living with end-stage kidney disease.

“This first-ever kidney xenotransplant marks a pivotal moment for the transplant community and provides hope that this option may one day help solve the current shortage of available organs,” said David-Alexandre C. Gros, M.D., Eledon Chief Executive Officer. “Eledon has now participated in both heart and kidney xenotransplant procedures, further demonstrating tegoprubart’s broad potential in transplant. We are thankful to the patient, the entire medical team at Massachusetts General Hospital, and our partner eGenesis for the privilege to participate in this landmark procedure as we work to achieve our goal of developing tegoprubart as a new and better immunosuppressive option for transplant patients.”

Tegoprubart is being administered to the patient investigationally as part of a regimen designed to suppress the immune system and prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted pig organ. Tegoprubart has been observed to be safe and well-tolerated in multiple studies and in multiple indications, including for the prevention of rejection following kidney transplantation.

“It is exciting to see the clinical application of xenotransplantation to a patient with end stage renal disease,” said Andrew Adams, MD, PhD, Chief, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Minnesota. “Based on all of the studies performed in preclinical models to date, it is clear that therapies targeting CD40L, like tegoprubart, are critical to controlling the immune response to the xenograft, potentially leading to superior long-term outcomes compared to other immunosuppressive therapies. CD40L sits at the interface of the adaptive and innate immune responses which may explain why therapies designed to block it have such potent effects in xenotransplantation.”