Recruiting

Stopping anti-rejection drugs in kidney transplant patients

Plain-English translation of NCT05525507 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated November 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1 — Testing in a small group (usually 20–80 people) to find a safe dose and watch for side effects.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a new approach called "retroactive tolerance induction" for people who already have a well-functioning kidney transplant. Researchers will give you special stem cells from your original kidney donor, along with a short conditioning treatment to help your body accept these cells. The goal is to teach your immune system to accept your transplanted kidney on its own, so you might eventually stop taking anti-rejection medications.

Kidney transplant patients must take strong anti-rejection medications for life, which can cause serious side effects and complications over time. This trial is testing whether the new treatment can help your immune system naturally accept your transplanted kidney, potentially freeing you from lifelong medications.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 18 years or older with a working kidney transplant from a matched living donor
your kidney transplant has been in place for 3 months to 5 years
you have never had rejection of your current kidney transplant
you have stable kidney function and no major complications since your transplant
you are willing to live within 3 hours of UCLA Medical Center for 3 to 6 months
you are in overall good health with adequate heart, liver, and organ function

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a history of kidney transplant rejection
you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next year
you have had cancer in the past 5 years (with some exceptions for low-risk or treated cancers)
you are allergic to rabbit proteins or have other contraindications to the conditioning medications
your kidney function has been getting worse in the past 3 months

What participation looks like

You would undergo a conditioning regimen with special medications and radiation to prepare your body for the stem cell infusion. Then you would receive stem cells from your original kidney donor. Over the following months, researchers will monitor your kidney function and measure donor cells in your blood through regular blood tests and clinic visits. Starting around 6 months, your anti-rejection medication (tacrolimus) would be gradually reduced and potentially stopped completely within 12 months, depending on how well your body tolerates the transplant.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 6, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

UCLA, Los Angeles, California