Cancer Channel
Topics
Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Zortress
Zortress is available by prescription and is used to help prevent kidney or liver transplant rejection. It works by weakening the immune system, so the body does not attack the organ as a foreign object. This medicine comes in the form of a tablet and is taken twice daily, with 12 hours between doses. Side effects may include nausea, constipation, and swelling.
Zortress® (everolimus) is a prescription medication approved to prevent kidney or liver transplant rejection, which occurs when the immune system identifies the new organ as a foreign object and attacks it. Zortress is in a group of medicines called kinase inhibitors. It is always used in combination with other anti-rejection medications.
Zortress contains everolimus, which is also the active ingredient in Afinitor®. Afinitor is available in higher-strength tablets and is approved to treat certain types of cancers and tumors.
(Click Zortress Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
Zortress is made by Novartis Pharma Stein AG for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Zortress works to prevent transplant rejection by weakening the immune system. When certain white blood cells, called lymphocytes, encounter foreign material, they change into an active form and begin to rapidly reproduce so there are more of them available to fight the invading substance. Zortress blocks the activation and rapid reproduction of these lymphocytes, thus preventing an immune response against the newly transplanted kidney or liver.
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD