Tacrolimus Formulation and Glucose Metabolism After Kidney Transplantation (TAGLUMET Trial)

Posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is an increasing problem in solid organ transplantation with profound impact on patient and allograft survival. One major contributing factor for the development of PTDM is choice of immunosuppression. Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), especially tacrolimus display a substantial diabetogenic potential but remain a cornerstone in maintenance immunosuppression for prevention of rejection and allograft loss. The diabetogenic effect of tacrolimus is mediated predominantly via disturbance of beta-cell function and impaired insulin secretion. There is growing evidence that this effect is dependent on dose and peak plasma concentrations. Once-dailyLCP-tacrolimus has been shown to have lower peak concentrations than twicedaily tacrolimus with comparable efficacy and safety.

LCP-tacrolimus has been shown to improve triglyceride levels, compared to twicedaily tacrolimus. In this study, no effect on the incidence of PTDM was observed, however assessed only by fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and antidiabetic treatment. As 1/3 of patients with diabetes are solely diagnosed via oral glucose tolerance test, this approach is insufficient for proper evaluation of glucose metabolism, including prediabetes as the principal risk factor.

From pathophysiologic understanding blood lipids and glucose metabolism are strongly associated, as hypertriglyceridemia correlates with insulin resistance. In combination with the lower peak concentrations, it can be hypothesized that LCP-tacrolimus results in better glucose metabolism after kidney transplantation, compared to twicedaily tacrolimus Better understanding of glucose metabolism under different tacrolimus formulations would address a key component of long-term cardiovascular risk and patient outcome after kidney transplantation.

Inclusion criteria

• Stable adult kidney transplant recipients on maintenance immunosuppression, >=12 months after kidney transplantation; stable is defined as no need for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions (e.g. kidney biopsy)
• Tacrolimus-based immunosuppression in combination with mycophenolic acid or azathioprine and maintenance prednisolone (<= 5 mg/q.d.) for at least 3 months
• Must be >= 18 years at the time of signing the informed consent
• Understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent document prior to any study related assessments/procedures.
• Able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.
• Subject (male or female) is willing to use highly effective methods during the study treatment (adequate: combined hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomized partner, sexual abstinence).
• Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must agree to pregnancy testing within 7 days from 1st dosing of IMP
• To abstain from breastfeeding during study participation and 28 days after study drug discontinuation.
• All subjects must agree not to share medication

Exclusion criteria

• patients with known diabetes mellitus or PTDM, or HbA1c>=6.5%
• fasting plasma glucose on examination day (visit 1) of >= 126 mg/dl (7,0 mmol/l)
• patients with combined transplantation (e.g. liver-kidney, pancreas-kidney, etc.)
• patients with acute infection at time of baseline visit
• patients with known non-adherence
• patients with rejection therapy or increased dosis of corticosteroids for other reasons within 3 months prior to inclusion.
• Women during pregnancy and lactation.
• History of hypersensitivity to the investigational medicinal product or to any drug with similar chemical structure or to any excipient present in the pharmaceutical form of the investigational medicinal product.
• Participation in other interventional clinical trials (inclusive of the Follow-up period)