What the trial was testing
The ADVOCATE enrolled 331 patients with anca-associated vasculitis. The study was sponsored by ChemoCentryx 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
66% sustained remission at one year — and far less steroid use.
New England Journal of Medicine · 2021 · NCT02994927
These findings — that of patients in sustained remission at one year on avacopan vs. tapered steroids — were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 331 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 anca-associated vasculitis, 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
Avacopan (Tavneos) is FDA-approved for severe active ANCA-associated vasculitis and available now. It is given alongside standard immune-suppressing therapy and lets most people taper off steroids faster. Ask a rheumatologist or kidney specialist whether 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 anca-associated vasculitis trials
Efficacy and Safety for Rituximab Combined With Telitacicept in the Treatment of ANCA-associated Vasculitis (TTCAAVREM)
This study is a prospective, open-labelled, randomized, controlled, single-center clinical trial. The aim of this study is to investigate the remission rate of patients treated with Telitacicept combined with Rituximab in remission-induction and Telitacicept alone in remission-maintain treatment.
Safe Effective Therapy With Low-Dose Glucocorticoid in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (SAFE-LOW)
The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of a therapeutic regimen consisting of 4 weeks of glucocorticoids given with a combination of the usual induction agents for ANCA-associated vasculitis. The trial will compare this regimen to the current standard of care treatment and glucocorticoid dosing for ANCA-associated vasculitis with severe kidney involvement. This trial will begin as a pilot to assess feasibility of recruitment and of adherence to the intervention.