ABSTRACT
The calcineurin inhibitors were developed as an alternative to topical and systemic glucocorticoids for immunosuppressive therapy. They were primarily used for the prevention of organ transplant rejection. These drugs include cyclosporin and the macrolides tacrolimus (FK 506) and, most recently, pimecrolimus (SDZ ASM 981), which are known to modify immune function by inhibition of calcineurin-dependent reactions critical in the production of inflammatory cytokines (1).
