Efficacy and Safety of AEB071 Plus Tacrolimus (Converted to Mycophenolic Acid After 3 Months), in Renal Transplant Patients

12-month Open Label, Randomized, Multicenter Study Evaluating Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Oral AEB071 Plus Tacrolimus (Converted to Mycophenolic Acid After 3 Months), vs. Mycophenolic Acid Plus Tacrolimus in de Novo Renal Transplant Recipients

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of AEB071 in preventing acute rejections after kidney transplantation, when combined with tacrolimus for the first 3 months and with myfortic thereafter.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients of any race 18 years or older
• Adult recipients of a kidney transplant from a deceased or from a living donor
• Recipients of a functioning Kidney:. Graft must be functional no later than 36h after transplantation.

Exclusion criteria

• Need for medication prohibited by the protocol
• Patients or donors infected with hepatitis B or C, or with HIV.
• Patients with a history of cancer
• Patients with severe systemic infections Patients with heart diseases (own or family history) which are associated with an increased risk for arrhythmias.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply