Study of Enteric-Coated Mycophenolate Sodium (EC-MPS) Plus Reduced-dose Cyclosporine Microemulsion (CsA-ME) Compared to EC-MPS Plus Standard Dose CsA-ME in Eldery de Novo Renal Transplant Recipients Treated With Basiliximab and Short-term Steroids

Inclusion criteria

Male or female patients 55_75 years old, recipients of a primary kidney transplant from a cadaver donor Subjects in whom CsA-ME plus basiliximab is selected as basic immunosuppressive regimen.

Cold ischemia time 20 hrs. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to enrollment and must use an effective contraception during the trial and for 6 weeks following discontinuation of the study medication.

Patients who are willing and able to participate in the full course of the study and from whom written informed consent has been obtained.

Exclusion criteria

Multi-organ recipients (e.g. kidney and pancreas, double kidney) or any previous transplant.

Patients with any known hypersensitivity to mycophenolic acid or other components of the formulation (e.g. lactose).

Patients with thrombocytopenia (75,000 mm), with an absolute neutrophil count of 1,500 mm and or leukocytopenia ( 2,500 mm3) and/or hemoglobin < 6 g/dL at Screening or Baseline.

Patients who have received an investigational drug within four weeks prior to study entry.

Patients with a history of malignancy within the last five years, except excised squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin.

Females of childbearing potential who are planning to become pregnant, who are pregnant and or lactating, who are unwilling to use effective means of contraception.

Presence of clinically significant infections requiring continued therapy. Known positivity to HIV or positive HBsAg test. Evidence of drug and or alcohol abuse Existence of any surgical or medical condition, other than the current transplant, which in the opinion of the investigator might significantly alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of study medication, and/or presence of severe diarrhea, active peptic ulcer disease, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

Patients with Panel Reactive Antibodies (PRA) historical peak evaluation 30% or most recent evaluation 15%.