News

1st patient enrolled in global Phase 2 trial of daxdilimab for lupus

A Phase 2 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of daxdilimab, a potentially first-in-class treatment for people with active, proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) — a lupus complication marked by kidney damage — has enrolled its first patient. Horizon Therapeutics, the therapy’s developer, anticipates about 210 patients, ages 18–80,…

Advocates lobby Congress about improving lupus care access

Hundreds of lupus supporters converged on Capitol Hill recently for the first time since 2019 to show their support for policies that would improve patient access to care, hear from lupus experts, and recognize those who’ve advocated for patients. The National Lupus Advocacy Summit, presented April 23-25 by…

Lupkynis approved in Switzerland to treat adults with lupus nephritis

Lupkynis (voclosporin) is now approved in Switzerland to treat adults with active lupus nephritis, a complication of lupus characterized by kidney damage and inflammation. The approval specifically covers the treatment, given along immunosuppressants, for adults with active class 3, 4, and 5 lupus nephritis — three subtypes of the…

Lupus community aims to improve visibility this Awareness Month

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is calling on the community to help increase visibility and promote education about the autoimmune disease throughout the month of May — thereby marking Lupus Awareness Month. “All too often people with lupus hear that they don’t ‘look’ sick. This is why…

Toni Braxton partners with Aurinia on kidney care campaign for lupus

Toni Braxton is hoping to strike a chord with people with lupus via Aurinia Pharmaceuticals‘ “Get Uncomfortable” campaign: the singer-songwriter wants to empower fellow patients to prioritize kidney health as a key part of their care. Braxton, a Grammy Award-winning singer, and an actress, producer, and entrepreneur, was…

7 lupus research projects win LRA Innovation Award grants

Seven projects led by research teams from the U.S. and Europe have been announced as the recipients of the latest round of Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) Lupus Innovation Award (LIA) grants, which can total up to $300,000. The awards provide support — up to $150,000 annually for two…

Phase 1/2 trial of relma-cel, a CAR T-cell therapy, to open in China

JW Therapeutics has received approval from Chinese authorities to open a clinical trial of its CAR T-cell therapy, relmacabtagene autoleucel (relma-cel), in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with moderate-to-severe and treatment-resistant active disease. Although not approved for SLE or other autoimmune disorders, relma-cel is available under the…