Aurinia Pharmaceuticals revealed that a new method-of-use patent application from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may allow for the use of the company’s calcineurin inhibitor voclosporin (Lupkynis) in combination with other medications to more effectively treat patients with lupus nephritis, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. The new application—known as Improved Protocol for the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis—signaled future advances in therapeutic options for these patients following the 2021 U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of voclosporin, the first oral medication for treating lupus nephritis. The company hopes that more refined methods of using their therapy in combination with other treatment options will benefit the 60% of patients with lupus who experience lupus nephritis.
May 25, 2023