AstraZeneca announced today that the first patients have been administered Saphnelo™ (anifrolumab) in its Phase 3 IRIS study for treatment of lupus nephritis (LN).

The study will build upon a smaller Phase 2 trial completed earlier this year. In this next phase, the Saphnelo clinical trial will help determine the treatment’s effectiveness in a larger group of people with LN. Saphnelo is already approved for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.

The drug blocks type 1 interferons (a biomarker of inflammation) and Phase 2 results of the therapy suggested this approach could be promising for the treatment of LN.

Up to 60% of patients with lupus will go on to develop lupus nephritis, including over half of children with lupus. Continue to follow the Lupus Foundation of America for updates on the IRIS study of Saphnelo for treatment of LN and learn more about medications used to treat lupus.

Read the announcement