AURORA study: Voclosporin effective treatment for lupus nephritis
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Phase 3 results from the AURORA study indicate treatment with the immunosuppressant drug voclosporin was superior to standard of care for achieving renal response rates in patients with lupus nephritis. The results were presented virtually at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings.
In a related press release, Keisha L. Gibson, MD, MPH, FASN, of the University of North Carolina Kidney Center, said, "We are pleased to report that the patients who received voclosporin were 2.65 times more likely to meet the criteria for response based on proteinuria and eGFR.”
For the study, 357 patients with lupus nephritis received either 23.7 mg/day of voclosporin or placebo. All patients also received 2 g/day of mycophenolate and rapidly tapered low-dose oral steroids.
At 52 weeks, the researchers determined renal response rates to be 40.8% for those in the voclosporin group vs. 22.5% for the control group. Renal response rates also favored patients in the voclosporin group at 24 weeks.
Furthermore, patients in the voclosporin group achieved low levels of protein twice as quickly as patients on standard of care (urine protein to creatinine ratio [UPCR] < 0.5 mg/mg at 169 days vs. 372 days).
No differences were observed in the safety profile between the two groups, with infection being the most commonly reported serious adverse effect for all patients in the study (10.1% in voclosporin group vs. 11.2% in control).
“We know that achieving remission status in lupus kidney disease correlates with good long-term kidney survival and so, the results of this study are very encouraging,” Gibson said. – by Melissa J. Webb
Reference:
Gibson KL, et al. Abstract #407. Presented at: National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings; March 26-29, 2020. (virtual meeting).
Disclosure: Healio Nephrology was unable to determine relevant financial disclosures prior to publication.