Aurinia, NKF Partner for National Kidney Month, Focus on Lupus Nephritis

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals is again partnering with the National Kidney Foundation (NFK) during National Kidney Month to raise awareness of lupus nephritis (LN) — a type of kidney disease caused by systemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus.

A new program launched by Aurinia, called ALL IN, is an online resource for people with LN and their caregivers.

Each March is set aside to heighten awareness around kidney disease, which affects about 15% of adults in the U.S. and more than 850 million people globally. World Kidney Day was March 12.

LN is a common complication in lupus, a disease that causes the immune system to make autoantibodies, or immune proteins that attack the body’s own tissues and organs, including the kidneys. It occurs when lupus antibodies affect kidney structures that filter out waste. This causes inflammation and may lead to blood in the urine, high blood pressure, and impaired kidney function.

During the awareness month, Aurinia is spotlighting its ALL IN program, an online source of information and support for those affected by LN. The program has information about the disease and how to manage it, plus resources that include discussion guides for doctor visits, and a downloadable LN brochure.

The site also includes an infographic that highlights key LN facts, a 2017 U.S. Food and Drug Administration patient-focused report summarizing people’s disease journeys, and videos of individuals with LN telling their stories. In addition, the program offers a caregiver support component as well as links to patient advocacy groups.

For March, the program is again partnering with the foundation in the #ALLINorange campaign — lupus is represented by the color orange — and launching the Lupus Nephritis Awareness Resource Kit for patients and caregivers. The resource was created by members of the LN community to help increase disease awareness and knowledge.

Visit this site to sign up for the kit, which includes a glossary of LN terms, frequently asked questions, and advice about discussing LN with friends, family and doctors. It also includes tips for care partners, and a sample letter to use when writing to schools or employers about the condition. The kit comes with an #ALLINorange bracelet and a USB drive containing resource materials.

“Observances such as National Kidney Month and World Kidney Day are a reminder that people living with lupus nephritis are affected by the severe symptoms and complications associated with this disease each and every day. We are honored to work together with the community to advance understanding of this serious disease,” Neil Solomons, MD, Aurinia’s chief medical officer, said in a press release.

“The ALL IN program is a source of information, resources, and support for those affected by LN, and we are committed to continuing to build on materials and initiatives that benefit the community,” Solomons added.

Aurinia is developing voclosporin, a potential immunosuppressive treatment for people with LN.