Victoria Johnson joined the MJH Life Sciences in 2020 and has written for NeurologyLive, CGTLive, and now HCPLive. You can reach her at vjohnson@mjhlifesciences.com

Tegoprubart was well-tolerated in people receiving kidney transplant, with similar improvements in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) seen compared to those receiving tacrolimus.

These findings, from the phase 2 BESTOW trial, were presented at the 

American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2025

, held November 5-9, 2025, in Houston, Texas, by Andrew B. Adams, MD, PhD, Professor and Chief, Division of Transplantation, and John S Najarian Surgical Chair in Clinical Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School, and Executive Medical Director, Solid Organ Transplant Service Line M Health Fairview.

“There remains a significant unmet need for safer alternatives to traditional tacrolimus-based immunosuppression regimens—options that can reduce harmful side effects without compromising efficacy. The Phase 2 results presented at ASN Kidney Week highlight the potential of tegoprubart to deliver strong graft function after kidney transplantation, while avoiding the long-term toxicities often associated with current standard of care,” Andrew Adams, MD, PhD, Professor of Surgery and Chief, Division of Transplantation, John S. Najarian Surgical Chair in Clinical Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, said in a statement.

 “It’s been more than a decade since we’ve seen true innovation in transplant immunosuppression. These data offer real hope that patients may soon have a transformative therapy that improves their health outcomes and overall quality of life.”

BESTOW was a 12-month, randomized, head-to-head, Phase 2 trial evaluating 126 kidney transplant recipients receiving either tegoprubart (n = 63) or tacrolimus (n = 64) across 44 global sites. All patients also received rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) induction and maintenance therapy with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF/MPA) and corticosteroids. The study primarily evaluated the change in eGFR at 12 months post-transplant. Also assessed were biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR), patient and graft survival, composite efficacy failure, iBox score, donor-specific antibodies (DSAs), delayed graft function (DGF), and new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT).

The trial did not meet its primary end point, with participants on tegoprubart reaching an eGFR of 69 mL/min/1.73 m² (n=51) at 12 months compared with 66 mL/min/1.73 m² for tacrolimus (n=56). However, nearly all tegoprubart subgroups demonstrated higher eGFRs than tacrolimus, with living-related donor recipients (~72 mL/min/1.73 m² vs. 62 mL/min/1.73 m²) and high Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI > 35) transplants (~62 mL/min/1.73 m² vs. 53 mL/min/1.73 m²) having particularly strong responses. In the deceased donor subgroup, participants on tegoprubart achieved a mean eGFR of approximately 68 mL/min/1.73 m² at 12 months.

The tegoprubart group achieved the efficacy failure composite endpoint (comprising death, graft loss and biopsy proven acute rejection) at a rate of 22% compared to 17% in the tacrolimus group, demonstrating noninferiority. In its statement, Eledon asserted that these results support tegoprubart’s approvability.

Importantly, Adams and colleagues found that patients generally experienced a more favorable safety profile with tegoprubart over tacrolimus. Approximately 1 in 6 patients receiving tacrolimus developed new-onset diabetes versus 1 in 47 receiving tegoprubart, 25.0% of the tacrolimus group had tremor compared with 1.6% of the tegoprubart group, 15.9% had hypertension compared with 25.0%, 1,6% had hypertensive crisis compared with 7.8%, and 0% had heart failure compared with 4.7%.

Notably, less participants on tegoprubart experienced delayed graft function (14.3%) and participants required shorter dialysis (4.6 days) compared to those on tacrolimus (25.0% and 6.1 days, respectively. These figures correlate to a potential reduction of 115 days on dialysis post-transplant per 100 deceased donor kidney recipients with tegoprubart compared with tacrolimus.

Furthermore, sepsis or bacteremia occurred more frequently in the tacrolimus arm (17.2% vs. 4.8%) while rates of viral infections (CMV, BK, EBV, fungal) were similar across groups. There were no cases of Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) or Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) and the overall rates of serious adverse events were comparable between treatment arms.

The investigators also found that the rate of acute rejection in all biopsies was 20.6% in the tegoprubart group compared with 14.1% in the tacrolimus group. Among those in the tegoprubart group who experienced acute rejection and remained on treatment through month 12, mean eGFR was 73 mL/min/1.73 m², compared with 50 mL/min/1.73 m² in those who switched to tacrolimus. Donor-specific antibody cases emerged in 1 participant in the tegoprubart arm compared with 2 in the tacrolimus arm.

“The Phase 2 BESTOW data results demonstrate tegoprubart’s potential to maintain excellent kidney function while reducing the chronic metabolic, neurologic, and cardiovascular toxicities that burden patients on tacrolimus,” David-Alexandre C. Gros, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Eledon, added.

 “By pairing strong immunosuppressive efficacy with a differentiated safety profile, including dramatically lower rates of new-onset diabetes, tremor, and dialysis-requiring delayed graft function, tegoprubart represents a promising next-generation option for kidney transplant immunosuppression as we advance into Phase 3.”

Adams AB, Tedesco-Silva H, Potter S, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Tegoprubart for the Prevention of Rejection in Kidney Transplantation: Results from the Phase 2 BESTOW Trial. Presented at: Presented at: ASN Kidney Week. Houston, Texas. November 05-09, 2025. # TH-OR089

Eledon Presents Phase 2 BESTOW Trial Results for Tegoprubart for the Prevention of Rejection in Kidney Transplantation at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week 2025 Annual Meeting. News release. Eledon Pharmaceuticals. November 6, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/11/06/3183316/0/en/Eledon-Presents-Phase-2-BESTOW-Trial-Results-for-Tegoprubart-for-the-Prevention-of-Rejection-in-Kidney-Transplantation-at-the-American-Society-of-Nephrology-s-Kidney-Week-2025-Annu.html

Articles

Tegoprubart, evaluated in the Phase 2 BESTOW trial, showed promise as an alternative to tacrolimus for kidney transplant recipients. Although the trial did not meet its primary endpoint, tegoprubart demonstrated noninferiority in efficacy failure rates and offered a more favorable safety profile, with lower incidences of new-onset diabetes, tremor, and delayed graft function. The trial highlighted tegoprubart's potential to maintain excellent kidney function while reducing chronic toxicities associated with tacrolimus. These findings suggest tegoprubart as a promising next-generation immunosuppressive option for kidney transplantation.

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BESTOW: Tegoprubart Showcases Safer Prevention of Kidney Transplant Rejection Over Tacrolimus

Julie Khlevner, MD, AGAFAssociate Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University Medical CenterChair, NASPGHAN Neurogastroenterology and Motility Committee. 

Julie Khlevner, MD, AGAF, highlights that FDA approval of linaclotide provides the first pharmacologic therapy for pediatric IBS-C

Julie Khlevner, MD, AGAF, reacts to the FDA approval of linaclotide for pediatric IBS-C

Pediatric gastroenterologists now have a newly approved treatment option for children and adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) following the 

FDA’s recent approval of linaclotide (Linzess) capsules for patients ≥7 years of age

. This approval marks the first pharmacologic therapy for IBS-C in this population, expanding on linaclotide’s prior approvals for chronic idiopathic constipation and functional constipation in children.

Julie Khlevner, MD, AGAF, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center; Chair, NASPGHAN Neurogastroenterology and Motility Committee, discussed news of the approval with 

2025 North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN)

, describing the approval as “Exciting! We have been looking for treatment options for these patients for a really long time, so it’s nice to have an FDA approval in the pharmacological space at this time." 

Approval was supported by extrapolation of efficacy from adult studies and a 12-week pediatric trial in patients 7–17 years old who met modified Rome III criteria. The recommended pediatric dosage is 145 mcg orally once daily. The trial’s primary endpoint assessed combined reductions in abdominal pain and increased spontaneous bowel movements, demonstrating improvements consistent with the adult IBS-C population. Safety profiles in pediatric studies mirrored those in adults, with diarrhea being the most commonly reported side effect.

NASPGHAN 2025: Newly-Approved Linaclotide's Long-Term Safety Data

"The phase 3 trials looked at two dosages — 145 and 290 micrograms — and both dosages showed promise in terms of efficacy and a fairly good safety profile, very similar to other reported data in functional constipation that we’ve written about in the past," added Khlevner. “And this isn’t just for use by pediatric gastroenterologists — it could be prescribed by pediatricians as well. The more people know that there are options and can utilize them readily, the better off I think our patients will be.”

Beyond bowel movement frequency, linaclotide may relieve abdominal pain, a hallmark symptom of IBS-C. 

“It can help with pain, which is a significant symptom in IBS patients, but also increase stool frequency and improve consistency as well,” said Khlevner. She also emphasized the need for continued research in pediatric therapeutics, stating, “I think the space still requires other therapeutics to be looked into, and we look forward to finding those and treating our patients in a very individualized, multidisciplinary way, utilizing whatever we have to improve their symptomatology and quality of life.”

Brooks A. FDA Approves Linaclotide (Linzess) Capsules for Pediatric IBS-C. HCPLive. Published November 5, 2025. Accessed November 6, 2025. https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-approves-linaclotide-linzess-capsules-for-pediatric-ibs-c

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves 1st drug for children 7 years and older with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. November 5, 2025. Accessed November 5, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-1st-drug-children-7-years-and-older-irritable-bowel-syndrome-constipation

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Julie Khlevner, MD, AGAF, highlights that FDA approval of linaclotide provides the first pharmacologic therapy for pediatric IBS-C.

Gastroenterology

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, IBS and IBD, Crohn's disease, and more.

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Julie Khlevner, MD, AGAF, Reacts to the FDA Approval of Linaclotide for Pediatric IBS-C

Heather Goff, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

2025 Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference

 in San Antonio, Heather Goff, MD, MPH, associate professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, presented a session titled ‘Lifestyle in Skin Health and Disease.’

, Goff highlighted takeaways from this session.

 In this segment of her discussion, Goff touched on how to advise patients regarding the use of sunscreen and inform them on its long-term skin health impacts.

Impacts of Sunscreen and Diet on Skin Health and Lifespan, With Heather Goff, MD, MPH

“Keeping their skin looking even in tone, in texture, and keeping it looking young and wrinkle-free, is one of the biggest reasons that people adopt the use of sunscreen and sun protective behaviors,” Goff explained. “It’s that they just don't want their skin to look old or look bad. It's not skin cancer that's making people use sunscreen. It's making their skin look good. So I think [we should approach] exercise from the same perspective, [stating that] your skin will actually look younger if you begin to exercise.”

Goff highlighted the reasons many patients choose to do various healthy behaviors, noting these reasons as elements clinicians may use in their advice to patients. Goff also spoke about environmental pollutants’ impact on skin health, noting ways to address such issues.

“What we can do is we can use topical antioxidants, because things like cigarette smoke and air pollution do oxidize the lipids that are in our skin,” Goff said. “It's called lipid peroxidation, and one of the major lipid peroxidation end-products is something called malondialdehyde. Topical antioxidants mitigate the formation of lipid peroxidation products…When you apply topical antioxidants, or you're eating more antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries, for instance, you are consuming or applying electron donors.”

Goff also highlighted a notable element to lifespan increases among older adults, noting the value of exercise and social activity.

“If you reach the age of 60 and you haven't died…the biggest thing that is going to play a role in life expectancy from age 60 to age 80 is actually one’s level of physical activity and lean muscle mass,” Goff said. “But once you reach age 80, interestingly enough, the role of exercise and sociability flips, and how social you are actually tends to be the biggest predictive factor when it comes to achieving a long life expectancy and a life that feels rich and full.”

View Goff’s full video for more information. For any further information on topics such as these, presented at SDPA, check out the latest conference coverage page.

The quotes implemented in this video summary were edited for the purposes of clarity.

Goff had no relevant financial disclosures to include.

Goff H. Lifestyle in Skin Health and Disease. Presented at the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference, November 5-9, San Antonio, TX.

Goff H. Tips on Advising Dermatology Patients on Diet and Lifestyle Choices, With Heather Goff, MD, MPH. HCPLive. November 6, 2025. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/tips-advising-dermatology-patients-diet-lifestyle-choices-heather-goff-md-mph

This segment of Goff’s SDPA Fall 2025 interview features a discussion of dietary changes and sunscreen use as a means to improve skin health.

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The HCPLive dermatology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on skin disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for dermatologic conditions, and more.

Discussion on differentiating spontaneous from inducible urticaria, identifying triggers, and streamlining diagnosis in dermatology and primary care.

Navigating Guideline Recommendations for CSU Management in Real-World Settings

series focuses on optimizing management for 

 through evidence-based and individualized care. 

, highlighting diagnostic distinctions between spontaneous, inducible, and secondary forms. She emphasizes the importance of structured disease assessment using standardized tools such as the

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The program then explores therapeutic innovation, particularly the rise of 

, which demonstrated rapid, durable symptom control and sustained remission through 52 weeks in the 

 trials. Armstrong examines how these findings may redefine long-term management goals and reshape patient expectations around control vs remission. She provides guidance on communicating treatment transitions, addressing concerns about injectables vs oral therapies, and balancing efficacy with adherence and accessibility—particularly as small molecule therapies expand options beyond traditional biologics such as omalizumab.

Finally, the conversation looks ahead to 

, envisioning a shift from rigid stepwise algorithms to 

. Armstrong discusses emerging biomarkers that could predict treatment response as well as how dermatologists and allergists may increasingly share roles in CSU management as therapeutic categories converge. She closes by highlighting the promise of new oral targeted therapies and the importance of integrating patient-reported outcomes and shared decision-making to achieve lasting control and improved quality of life.

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Dr.Amanda Armstrong, MD, MPH, introduces the evolving CSU landscape and outlines key objectives: guideline alignment, treatment optimization, and integration of new targeted agents.

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In this interview at SDPA Fall 2025, Goff highlights several takeaways from her session on lifestyle and diet choices among patients in the dermatology space.

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The rheumatology month in review emphasizes new data presented at the 2025 ACR Convergence.

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Rheumatology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on rheumatologic disease. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for arthritis, gout, nr-AxSpA, and more.

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Lupus

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Thomas Wallach, MD, Chief, Pediatric Gastroenterology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, New York, New York.

Thomas Wallach, MD, discusses phase 3 safety data of tenapanor in pediatric patients with IBS-C, presented at the 2025 NASPGHAN Annual Meeting. 

Discussing Safety, Tolerability of Tenapanor in Pediatric IBS-C patients, with Thomas Wallach, MD

Jonathan Barratt, MBChB, PhD, discusses 36-week atacicept data from ASN Kidney Week 2025.

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Understanding Atacicept & 36-Week ORIGIN 3 Data from Kidney Week 2025, With Jonathan Barratt, MBChB, PhD

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team as an assistant editor for HCPLive in August 2022. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in political science, working in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching TV, listening to podcasts, and rock climbing. You can contact him at 

In a session presented at the 2025 SDPA Fall Conference, a review was given of common genetic syndromes with cutaneous manifestations.

Guidelines Presented on Managing Genetic Skin Disorders and Referring Patients

New findings reveal sparsentan significantly reduces proteinuria in FSGS patients, offering hope for improved kidney health and lower failure risk.

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DUPLEX: Sparsentan Outperforms Irbesartan in Reaching Key Proteinuria Threshold in FSGS

Alex Hillenbrand is an assistant editor for 

. She earned her BA in English from Lafayette College in 2023 and went on to write for pop culture, entertainment, and sports media outlets before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2025. In her free time, Alex enjoys cooking, going on walks, and meeting new people. Contact her at mjhlifesciences.com.

Findings showed anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders were highly prevalent among ESRD patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis

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Patrick Campbell is the editorial director of HCPLive. Patrick has spent years spearheading coverage surrounding cardiometabolic health and rheumatic disease for MJH Life Sciences. Before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2019, he spent time as a beat reporter and/or multimedia specialist with the Pocono Record, Star News Group, and NJ Advance Media. He is the executive producer for multiple HCPLive podcasts, including Diabetes Dialogue, Don't Miss a Beat, Kidney Compass, Medical Ethics Unpacked, The Medical Sisterhood, and Skin of Color Savvy. 


Follow him on Twitter @RealPatCampbell or reach him via email at PCampbell@mjhlifesciences.com.

Finerenone significantly reduces UACR in type 1 diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease, offering new hope for treatment.

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At NASPGHAN 2025, investigators presented 52-week safety data from an ongoing phase 3 trial of linaclotide, the first approved treatment for patients aged 7 and older with IBS-C. 

Ryan Livingston joined the MJH Life Sciences team in March of 2025, shortly after graduating from TCNJ with a bachelor’s degree in English. He enjoys creative writing, reading, and scuba diving. He can be reached at rlivingston@mjhlifesciences.com.

Eli Lilly and Company’s investigative therapy provided effective and safe weight loss treatment with limited adverse events.

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BESTOW: Tegoprubart Showcases Safer Prevention of Kidney Transplant Rejection Over Tacrolimus

Julie Khlevner, MD, AGAF, Reacts to the FDA Approval of Linaclotide for Pediatric IBS-C

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