1. Yartemlea (narsoplimab-wuug) is the first on‑label complement inhibitor for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) associated thrombotic microangiopathy, associated with improvements in platelets, hemolysis markers, and organ function in high‑risk transplant recipients.
2. Transplant centers are now incorporating Yartemlea into HSCT‑TMA algorithms, balancing infection and infusion‑related risks against the opportunity to move from purely supportive care to disease‑modifying treatment.
The late‑2025 approval of Yartemlea, a complement‑targeted therapy for hematopoietic stem cell transplant–associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT‑TMA), is already altering transplant conversations as 2026 gets underway. HSCT‑TMA has historically carried substantial morbidity and mortality, with care largely confined to supportive measures, blood‑pressure control, and empiric complement inhibition in the absence of an on‑label option, a gap repeatedly emphasized in reviews such as a New England Journal of Medicine overview. Regulatory documents and publicly available study summaries indicate that Yartemlea treatment was associated with clinically meaningful gains in platelet counts, reductions in hemolysis markers such as lactate dehydrogenase, and improvements in organ function among affected patients. Taken together, these findings support the idea that complement inhibition with Yartemlea may move HSCT‑TMA management from predominantly supportive care toward disease‑modifying therapy in carefully selected, high‑risk transplant recipients. Safety information in the FDA’s searchable Drugs@FDA database highlights infectious complications and infusion‑related reactions typical of complement inhibitors, reinforcing the need for vaccination strategies, antimicrobial prophylaxis, and close monitoring. Transplant centers early in 2026 are therefore working through practical questions such as which diagnostic thresholds should prompt initiation, how to sequence Yartemlea with other immunosuppressive and anti‑infective agents, and how to embed its use into multidisciplinary TMA pathways. Both pediatric and adult programs are also weighing payer policies, infusion‑center capacity, and the intensity of follow‑up required to safely deliver this therapy in routine practice. Hematologists and transplant physicians caring for post‑transplant patients with unexplained cytopenias, schistocytes, and organ dysfunction may need to revisit their diagnostic algorithms to ensure HSCT‑TMA is recognized early enough for targeted treatment to be effective. Over the course of 2026, accumulating real‑world data are likely to refine which patient subsets benefit most, and how quickly clinicians should escalate to Yartemlea once HSCT‑TMA is suspected or confirmed. Moreover, critical care and nephrology teams co‑managing these patients will also need familiarity with complement blockade, fluid and blood‑pressure targets, and potential interactions with renal replacement therapies. Longer‑term follow‑up will be important to clarify durability of response, late adverse events, and the impact of this strategy on overall transplant outcomes in both children and adults.
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