ATG PREFERABLE TO OKT3 TO TREAT ACUTE REJECTION.

SangStat (Nasdaq:SANG), Fremont, Calif., has reported on recently published European Best Practice Guidelines for Renal Transplantation which state that anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is preferable to OKT3 for the treatment of acute rejection episodes. The guidelines further reported rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin preferable to horse anti-thymocyte globulin. These guidelines could benefit SangStat's Thymoglobulin(R) (Anti-thymocyte Globulin (Rabbit)) in its efforts to take market share from OKT3 and Atgam(R) (horse ATG) in the treatment of acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients. Thymoglobulin is marketed by SangStat in both the US and Europe.

These consensus guidelines were produced by the European Best Practice Guidelines Expert Group on renal transplantation and published in the most recent edition of Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (vol. 15 (2000) Supplement 7), the official publication of the European Renal Association and European Dialysis and Transplantation Association (ERA-EDTA). The European Best Practice Guidelines are developed by an expert group and represent the optimal management in the field of renal transplantation. They are the output of collective reviews of state of the art references in the field with a focus on randomized control trials. Consensus guidelines have been formulated on the basis of best current practice as supported by data published in peer review journals and the vast clinical experience of those involved in the preparation. All experts were both members of ERA-EDTA and the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT), which is the European counterpart of the American Society of Transplantation.

Thymoglobulin, which was introduced to the US market in 1999, is a pasteurized anti-thymocyte rabbit immunoglobulin indicated for the treatment of renal transplant acute rejection, in conjunction with concomitant immunosuppression. Common adverse reactions, which are often transient, include fever, infections, and thrombocytopenia. Thymoglobulin is contraindicated in patients with known allergy to rabbit proteins, an acute viral illness, or a history of anaphylaxis during rabbit immunoglobulin administration. Thymoglobulin should only be used by physicians experienced in immunosuppressive therapy in the management of renal transplant patients.

SangStat

SangStat is a global biotechnology company building on its foundation in transplantation to discover, develop and market high value therapeutic products in the transplantation, immunology and hematology/oncology areas. Since 1988, SangStat has been dedicated to improving the outcome of organ and bone marrow transplantation through the development and marketing of products to address all phases of transplantation in the worldwide market. SangStat's US headquarters are in Fremont, California. SangStat also maintains a strong European presence, including direct sales and marketing forces in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, and distributors throughout the rest of the world.