medwireNews: The US FDA has approved voclosporin, a calcineurin inhibitor, as the first oral treatment option for active lupus nephritis.
This announcement follows the FDA approval of belimumab as the first drug treatment for this patient population in January 2021.
“We are thrilled that doctors now have a second new option to treat lupus nephritis, which affects up to 60% of people with lupus,” said Stevan Gibson, president and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America, in a press release.
Voclosporin is indicated for use alongside background immunosuppressive treatment with mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids, but is not recommended alongside cyclophosphamide. The recommended starting dose is 23.7 mg twice daily, with subsequent dosing based on estimated glomerular filtration rate.
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