• relative changes in CMV-load (copies/mL), as determined by qCMV-PCR from whole blood throughout the observational period [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  

• CMV-load (copies/mL) after 1-8 weeks, in months 3, 4, 6 and 12; Time (in weeks) until the CMV-load reaches ≤600 copies/mL [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  

DESIGN / PHASE Prospective, single-center, randomized, parallel group, controlled, phase II study.

PATIENTS / GROUPS 40 patients in 2 groups 20 patients per group Randomization ratio 1:1, no stratification

INVESTIGATIONAL DRUG Oral MED 1: Certican® initial dose: 1,5-3 mg day target trough level: 3-8 ng/mL (first levels will be performed after 3 days and then adjusted until - according to the judgement of the clinical investigator - a stable degree of immunosuppression is reached; thereafter Certican® trough levels will be performed at the scheduled appointments)

COMPARATIVE DRUG No therapy (add-on design

CONCOMITANT MEDICATION Allowed The concomitant immunosuppressive medication will be adjusted to the additional administration of Certican®. For example, if the patient already receives cyclosporine A or tacrolimus, this will be adjusted, according to the current recommendations4 at the judgement of the clinical investigator

TOLERABILITY / SAFETY ENDPOINTS:

Rejection Hematocrit Platelet count WBC count Wound healing disorders Blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) Infections (other than CMV)

PHARMACOKINETIC / PHARMACODYNAMIC ENDPOINTS Certican® (everolimus) trough levels

STATISTICAL METHODOLOGY Primary Endpoint: CMV-load (copies/mL)

Null and alternative hypotheses:

H0 Treatment with Certican® (everolimus) in combination with valcyte® (valganciclovir) or cymevene® (ganciclovir) is equal to valcyte® (valganciclovir) or cymevene® (ganciclovir) alone in reducing the CMV-load in renal transplant patients with CMV-disease H1: Treatment with Certican® (everolimus) in combination with valcyte® (valganciclovir) or cymevene® (ganciclovir) is superior to valcyte® (valganciclovir) or cymevene® (ganciclovir) in reducing CMV-load (copies/mL) in renal transplant patients with CMV-disease Type-I and -II errors - power. α=0.05 ß=0.2 (power 0.8) Statistical methodology ANOVA of repeated measures (CMV-copies/mL), one-sided t-test of CMV load at distinct time-points, one-sided t-test of the time (in weeks) until CMV-load reaches ≤600 copies/mL Sample size calculation Based on a one-sided testing and a σ of 0.2 in relative changes of CMV-copies, an α=0.05 And a ß=0.2 a sample size of 20 patients per group was determined. Main analysis set Per-protocol (efficacy) and intention to treat (ITT) for safety Other endpoints Bonferroni corrected t-tests will be performed for CMV-copies/mL at each time point of the follow-up period. The time to copies ≤600 will also be analysed by a t-test. All other secondary endpoints and subgroup analysis will be performed in explorative intention (descriptive statistics).