Letermovir effectively prevented cytomegalovirus disease among kidney transplant patients with fewer side effects than valganciclovir, according to a study presented at IDWeek.
Although valganciclovir is effective against CMV in transplant patients, its toxicities make it more challenging to use, researchers said. The drug was approved by the FDA in 2001 for specific solid organ transplant patients, including kidney patients.
According to the new study, letermovir is at least as effective and could be preferable in some indications, but the drug has not been approved for solid organ transplant