Lupus nephritis (LN) affects approximately 25%-60% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Currently, guideline-directed therapy recommends a combination of steroids plus either mycophenolate mofetil or cyclophosphamide. Despite treatment, about 10%-30% of LN patients will progress to end-stage kidney disease.
Fortunately, over the past 2 years, the FDA approved two novel agents that expand treatment options for patients with active disease who have received standard-of-care therapy.
In this ReCAP, Dr Joan Merrill, of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, reports on the B-lymphocyte stimulator–specific inhibitor belimumab, which was evaluated in the BLISS-LN trial, and the oral calcineurin inhibitor voclosporin, which was assessed in the AURORA trials.
Dr Merrill discusses how these recently approved medications fit into the standard of care for LN patients.
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Joan Merrill, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Director of Clinical Projects, Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Joan Merrill, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Biogen
Received research grant from: Bristol-Myers Squibb; GlaxoSmithKline
Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: AbbVie; Alexion; Amgen; AstraZeneca; Aurinia; Bristol-Myers Squibb; EMD Serono; Genentech; Gilead; GlaxoSmithKline; Lilly; Merck; Provention; RemeGen; Sanofi; UCB; Zenas
Received research grant from: AbbVie; AstraZeneca; BeiGene; Pharmacyclics; TG Therapeutics