Daclizumab

Daclizumab (Zenapax) is a humanized monoclonal antibody to the IL-2Rα receptor of T cells. It is used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation, especially in kidney transplants.

It is given in multiple doses, the first 1 hour before the transplant operation and 5 further doses given at two week intervals after the transplant. These saturate the receptors and prevent T cell activation and thus prevent formation of antibodies against the transplant.

Like the similar drug basiliximab, daclizumab reduces the incidence and severity of acute rejection in kidney transplantation without increasing the incidence of opportunistic infections.

Daclizumab can also be used in place of a calcineurin-inhibitor (ciclosporin or tacrolimus) in the early phase after kidney transplantation when the kidney is recovering and vulnerable to calcineurin-inhibitor toxicity. This has been shown to be beneficial in non-heart beating donor kidney transplantation.

In the United Kingdom, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended its use be considered for all kidney transplant recipients.

Daclizumab is now being tested as a possible Multiple Sclerosis treatment in a phase 2 clinical trial across the United States and Europe, which started 2006 and will end in 2007. It has also been used to arrest the progression of autoimmune diseases, especially birdshot retinochoroidopathy.