Canadian-based biopharmaceutical firm Aurinia Pharmaceuticals has begun dosing patients in the Phase III AURORA clinical trial of voclosporin to treat lupus nephritis (LN).

Voclosporin is an investigational immunosuppressant and calcineurin inhibitor with a synergistic and dual mechanism of action.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

The drug is formulated by altering a single amino acid of the cyclosporine molecule.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial is designed to enrol approximately 320 patients.

The trial will demonstrate the effect of voclosporin when used in conjunction with the existing standard-of-care of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) over a period of 52 weeks.

See Also:

"We remain dedicated to advancing this treatment and making a meaningful impact in the lives of patients suffering from LN and those around them."

It aims to establish that the addition will enhance the overall renal response rates in the presence of low doses of corticosteroids.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals chief medical officer Neil Solomons said: “Dosing our first patient today is an important milestone for the company.

“Our Phase III trial design is nearly identical to that of our successful Phase II AURA trial, which demonstrated the potential of voclosporin to increase both speed and rates of remission in patients with active LN.

“We remain dedicated to advancing this treatment and making a meaningful impact in the lives of patients suffering from LN and those around them.”

The trial will evaluate the efficacy of one dose of 23.7mg voclosporin twice-daily compared to placebo and will measure the complete renal response at 52 weeks as the primary endpoint.