Overview of new immunosuppressive therapies

This review covers the new immunosuppressive drugs that have appeared in the past 5 years. It begins with the newest formulation (Neoral, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ, USA) of the clinically "mature" drug cyclosporin A and then reviews the literature on tacrolimus, sirolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. In each case, the emphasis is on the evolution of experience with the drug and on the questions that the drug poses for pediatricians considering the risk-benefit ratio of the drug in children.