New drug shows promise for transplant complication without steroids

This study tested the drug ibrutinib as a first treatment for people with newly diagnosed chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), a condition where donor cells attack the recipient's body after a stem cell transplant. Ten adults with moderate or severe cGVHD took ibrutinib daily for up to 2 years. The goal was to see if the drug could control the disease without using steroids. Results showed some participants had improvement or complete resolution of symptoms.