What the trial was testing
The BLISS-LN enrolled 448 patients with lupus nephritis. The study was sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
43% reached the kidney response goal at two years vs. 32% on standard care alone.
New England Journal of Medicine · 2020 · NCT01639339
These findings — that kidney response rate at two years on belimumab plus standard therapy vs. standard therapy alone — were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 448 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with lupus nephritis, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Belimumab (Benlysta) is FDA-approved for lupus nephritis and available now. It is given alongside standard therapy like mycophenolate or cyclophosphamide. Most common side effects are infections and infusion reactions. Ask a rheumatologist or kidney specialist if it fits your treatment plan.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open lupus nephritis trials
Induction Therapy for Lupus Nephritis With no Added Oral Steroids: A Trial Comparing Oral Corticosteroids Plus Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) Versus Obinutuzumab and MMF
This is a randomised, open label, controlled non-inferiority phase III multicentre trial. As primary objective, the study aims to demonstrate that a regimen free of additional oral corticosteroids but with obinutuzumab (and MMF) is non-inferior to a regimen based on oral corticosteroids and MMF in achieving the primary outcome of complete renal response at week 52 without receiving corticosteroids above a prespecified dose. As secondary objectives, the study aims: * To compare the efficacy of the treatments in both arms in terms of: * partial plus complete renal response at week 52; * proteinuria \< 0.8g/g at week 52; * extrarenal flares; * response as defined by a \>4 points reduction in SELENA-SLEDAI score at week 52. * To compare the safety of the treatments in both arms in terms of occurrence of: * toxicity of corticosteroids; * serious Adverse Events; * serious Infectious Episodes; * new damage. * To compare the number of patients with non-adherence to treatment in both arms. * To estimate the efficiency of obinutuzumab in this indication. The ancillary studies will allow: * To implement a biobank (serum, plasma, DNA, cells and urine) and a bank of renal biopsies for studies that will be part of separate research funding bids (patients will be informed that their samples and data may be used for subsequent studies and offered to consent or not). * To identify which target therapeutic levels of MMF best predicts response with least toxicity (ancillary study). * To have long term data on renal function and damage.
A Clinical Study of YTS109 Cell for R/R Autoimmune Diseases
This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of YTS109 cells in adults with relapsed/refractory autoimmune diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), including LN and SLE-ITP, Sjogren's Syndrome, etc. Aproximately 18 patients aged 18-65 will receive a single infusion of YTS109 cells. The dose groups are set to commence at 3×10⁶ STAR -T cells/kg, employing a 3+3 escalation principle for dose titration. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of YTS109 cells therapy in treating recurrent/refractory autoimmune diseases, while the secondary objectives are to assess the efficacy of YTS109 cells as well as their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. The primary endpoint is observations of types, severity, and frequency of adverse events (AEs) and efficacy assessment. This single-arm, open-label trial will enroll patients across The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.