Study shows Neoral provides kidney transplant patients with efficacy equivalent to tacrolimus and significantly lower incidence of diabetes.

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Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin ASA. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- * New study demonstrates Neoral has equivalent efficacy to tacrolimus in preventing rejection of kidney transplants * Results show incidence of new-onset diabetes following renal transplantation is significantly lower with Neoral than tacrolimus * Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease - the leading cause of death in patients with a functioning graft1 Basel, July 24, 2006 - A large-scale head-to-head study has shown that Neoral (cyclosporine) and tacrolimus have equivalent efficacy in preventing organ rejection in kidney transplant patients, but those treated with Neoral had a significantly lower incidence of new-onset diabetes. Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular death in transplant patients. The study results suggest that immunosuppressant efficacy is not the only factor to affect the long-term outcome for patients surviving organ transplantation. The findings of the study were presented today at the World Transplant Congress in Boston. "The results of this study are especially important in view of the clear association between diabetes and the …