Belatacept, sold under the brand name Nulojix, is a fusion protein composed of the Fc fragment of a human IgG1 immunoglobulin linked to the extracellular domain of

CTLA-4 CTLA-4 or CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4), also known as CD152 ( cluster of differentiation 152), is a protein receptor that functions as an immune checkpoint and downregulates immune responses. CTLA-4 is constitutively exp ...

, which is a molecule crucial in the regulation of T cell costimulation, selectively blocking the process of T-cell activation. It is intended to provide extended

graft Graft or grafting may refer to: *Graft (politics), a form of political corruption * Graft, Netherlands, a village in the municipality of Graft-De Rijp Science and technology *Graft (surgery), a surgical procedure *Grafting, the joining of plant t ...

and transplant survival while limiting the toxicity generated by standard immune suppressing regimens, such as

calcineurin inhibitor Immunosuppressive drugs, also known as immunosuppressive agents, immunosuppressants and antirejection medications, are drugs that inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system. Classification Immunosuppressive drugs can be classified into ...

s. It differs from

abatacept Abatacept, sold under the brand name Orencia, is a medication used to treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, by interfering with the immune activity of T cells. It is a modified antibody. Abatacept is a fusion protein composed of ...

(Orencia) by only two amino acids. Belatacept was developed by Bristol-Myers-Squibb and approved by the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respon ...

(FDA) on June 15, 2011.

References

External links

* Engineered proteins Bristol Myers Squibb {{antineoplastic-drug-stub