Kezar Life Sciences has announced that it has opened enrollment for the phase IIb PALIZADE trial, which will test the efficacy of the selective immunoproteasome inhibitor zetomipzomib in patients with active lupus nephritis, according to a report from Lupus News Today. The novel agent works by inhibiting immunoproteasomes, which helps mitigate the inflammation and immune cell activation implicated in lupus nephritis. The researchers conducting the new trial hope to establish zetomipzomib as a safe treatment alternative for patients with lupus nephritis, since current treatment options such as corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants can result in severe side effects after long-term use. The launch of the new trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05781750) comes after researchers reported positive results from the phase Ib/II MISSION trial (NCT03393013)—in which 64.7% and 41.2% of patients with lupus nephritis achieved overall renal response and complete renal response, respectively, after receiving once-weekly injections of zetomipzomib for 6 months. Further, patients treated with the agent experienced only mild or moderate side effects. In PALIZADE, patients will be randomly assigned to receive 30 mg or 60 mg of zetomipzomib or placebo once weekly for 12 months. Recruitment is ongoing at eight site, with a target enrollment of 279 patients with active disease.