IQWiG: Nulojix benefits kidney transplant patients

The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) said Nulojix belatacept from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) provides a "small degree" of additional benefit compared with generic cyclosporine A in preventing organ rejection in a subgroup of kidney transplant patients. IQWiG said in a preliminary benefit assessment Nulojix provided benefit in patients receiving kidneys from donors who were younger than 60 years old without secondary illnesses. These patients had fewer serious adverse events or therapy discontinuations because of side effects. However, the agency said there was no evidence of benefit in patients receiving kidneys from organ donors who were over 60 years of age or younger patients who had secondary illnesses. ...