Drug duo may unlock kidney transplants for 'impossible' patients

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Highly sensitized patient cPRA 99-100% AND actively listed for kidney transplantation at the kidney transplantation Program at University fo Chicago * Ebstein Barr Virus (EBV) Immunoglobulins (IgG) seropositive * No active systemic infection * No allergy to proteasome inhibitors (Bortezomib), or to belatacept * No known malignancy in the previous 2 years except for non-melanomatous skin cancer * Female who agrees to practice 2 effective methods of contraception through 3 months after the last dose of Bortezomib * Patient vaccinated against hepatitis B virus with positive level of HBsAb * Patients fully vaccinated against Coronavirus Disease 2019 at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the 1st cycle. * Actively listed for kidney transplant at the Transplant Institute at University of Chicago Exclusion Criteria: * Patient with significant neuropathy by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) criteria within 14 days before enrollment (Grades 3-4 or Grade 2 with pain) * Myocardial infarction within 6 months of enrollment or has Heart Failure in acute dialysis quality initiative (ADQI) ESRD classification system Class 2 non restrictive (2NR) or greater, uncontrolled angina, severe uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias, or ECG evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities * Patient who received other investigational drugs within 14 days prior to initiation of study treatment * Receipt of a live vaccine within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment * Evidence of severe liver disease by history or physical exam or with abnormal liver profile ( \> 1.5 times upper limit of normal within 30 days of consent) * Female who is breast feeding or pregnant * Untreated latent tuberculosis * History of Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease (PTLD) * Patient still carrying previous kidney transplant.