VOCLOSPORIN FOR LUPUS NEPHRITIS: INTERIM ANALYSIS OF THE AURORA 2 EXTENSION STUDY
Abstract: 1425
Authors: A. Saxena et al.
Key content:
Voclosporin, a calcineurin inhibitor, has been tested successfully in 2 trials in lupus nephritis. Studies showed that compared with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and low-dose steroids alone, the addition of voclosporin significantly increased the renal response rate and reduced proteinuria.
The interim analysis of the ongoing 2-year, blinded, controlled extension study with exposure up to 30 months shows in a total of 116 patients in the voclosporin arm and 100 patients in the control arm enrolled in the extension study, that patients with voclosporin treatment maintained meaningful reductions in proteinuria with no change in glomerular filtration rate.
Relevance:
This study suggests that voclosporin is effective in the long-term if added to standard of care in lupus nephritis. It is reassuring that voclosporin lacks the renal toxicity characteristic of some other calcineurin inhibitors.
