Efficacy and Safety of Concentration-controlled Everolimus to Eliminate or to Reduce Tacrolimus Compared to Tacrolimus in de Novo Liver Transplant Recipients

Inclusion Criteria: * Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent and adhere to study regimen. * Recipients who are 18-70 years of age of a primary liver transplant from a deceased donor. * Recipients who have been initiated on an immunosuppressive regimen that contains corticosteroids and tacrolimus, 3-7 days post-transplantation. * Confirmed recipient hepatitis C virus (HCV) status at Screening (either by antibody or by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). * Allograft is functioning at an acceptable level by the time of randomization as defined by protocol specific laboratory values. * Abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease estimated glomerular filtration rate (MDRD eGFR) ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73m2. Results obtained within 5 days prior to randomization are acceptable, however, no sooner than Day 25 post-transplantation. * Verification of at least 1 tacrolimus trough level of ≥ 8 ng/mL in the week prior to randomization. Investigators should make adjustments in tacrolimus dosing to continue to target trough levels above 8 ng/mL prior to randomization. Exclusion Criteria * Patients who are recipients of multiple solid organ or islet cell tissue transplants, or have previously received an organ or tissue transplant. Patients who have a combined liver-kidney transplant. * Recipients of a liver from a living donor, or of a split liver. * History of malignancy of any organ system within the past 5 years whether or not there is evidence of local recurrence or metastases, other than non-metastatic basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) (see next criteria). * Hepatocellular carcinoma that does not fulfill Milan criteria (1 nodule ≤ 5 cm, 2-3 nodules all \< 3 cm) at the time of transplantation as per explant histology of the recipient liver. * Any use of antibody induction therapy. * Patients with a known hypersensitivity to the drugs used on study or their class, or to any of the excipients. * Patients who are recipients of ABO incompatible transplant grafts. * Recipients of organs from donors who test positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen or HIV are excluded. * Patients who have any surgical or medical condition, which in the opinion of the investigator, might significantly alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of study drug. * Women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP). * Patients with any history of coagulopathy or medical condition requiring long-term anticoagulation which would preclude liver biopsy after transplantation. (Low dose aspirin treatment or interruption of chronic anticoagulant is allowed). Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.