Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AUPH) announced the acceptance of six abstracts, including five poster presentations, at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2024, happening in San Diego, CA from October 23-27. These findings emphasize the clinical significance of LUPKYNIS® (voclosporin), a second-generation calcineurin inhibitor, for treating adults with active lupus nephritis (LN).
Dr. Greg Keenan, Chief Medical Officer of Aurinia, highlighted the importance of LUPKYNIS in advancing treatment, particularly for populations disproportionately affected by LN. He expressed enthusiasm for the ENLIGHT-LN™ registry, which aims to provide insights into real-world treatment patterns and the drug’s unique impact on kidney health.
Key Findings from the ENLIGHT-LN Registry
New baseline data from the ENLIGHT-LN registry involved 123 patients with biopsy-confirmed LN starting treatment with LUPKYNIS within the past year. This initial analysis offers valuable insights into the real-world effectiveness and usage patterns of LUPKYNIS, particularly among diverse patient populations.
Comparative Studies on Podocyte Effects
Two studies investigated LUPKYNIS’s effects on podocytes, critical cells in kidney function. One study compared LUPKYNIS with cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (TAC), revealing that LUPKYNIS promotes podocyte stability at lower concentrations. Another study in a preclinical model of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome showed that LUPKYNIS improved kidney function markers and cell viability more effectively than CsA.
These results underline LUPKYNIS’s role in preserving kidney function and distinguish it from first-generation calcineurin inhibitors.
Accepted Abstracts at ASN 2024
- Title: Enlight-LN Registry: Baseline Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Treated with Voclosporin for Lupus Nephritis in the U.S.
- Authors: Niloofar Nobakht et al.
- Date: October 24, 2024
- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
- Poster Number: TH-PO653
- Title: Disease Targeting Properties of Voclosporin in Renal Transplant and Lupus Nephritis Patients
- Authors: Simon Zhou et al.
- Date: October 24, 2024
- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
- Poster Number: TH-PO642
- Title: Immunologic Changes Over Time in Repeat Kidney Biopsies from the AURORA Studies of Voclosporin in Lupus Nephritis
- Authors: Samir V. Parikh et al.
- Date: October 25, 2024
- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
- Poster Number: FR-PO839
- Title: Integrative Systems Analyses Reveal Calcineurin Inhibitor-Mediated Control of Human Podocyte Biophysics
- Authors: Jacob M. Wright et al.
- Date: October 26, 2024
- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
- Poster Number: SD-PO549
- Title: Voclosporin Ameliorates Proteinuria and Protects Podocytes in a Model of Non-Inflammatory Glomerular Disease
- Authors: Yu Kamigaki et al.
- Date: October 26, 2024
- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
- Poster Number: SA-PO709
- Title: Characterization of Screening Patterns and Identification of Patients with Lupus Nephritis in a Community Rheumatology Setting
- Authors: Nehad Soloman et al.
About Lupus Nephritis
Lupus nephritis is a severe manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affecting around 120,000 individuals in the U.S. and disproportionately impacting women and people of color. Effective screening and treatment are critical, as untreated LN can lead to irreversible kidney damage.
About LUPKYNIS
LUPKYNIS is the first FDA-approved oral therapy specifically for adult patients with active lupus nephritis. Its dual mechanism of action not only inhibits T-cell activation but also enhances podocyte stability, playing a crucial role in preserving kidney health.
About Aurinia
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals focuses on delivering innovative therapies for autoimmune diseases. Following the introduction of LUPKYNIS in January 2021, the company continues to explore additional treatments for conditions with significant unmet medical needs.
