What the trial was testing
The AURORA 1 enrolled 358 patients with lupus. The study was sponsored by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. 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
41% of patients achieved normal kidney function after one year on the treatment.
Lancet (London, England) · 2021 · NCT03021499
These findings — that had kidney function return to normal after one year — were published in the Lancet (London, England) and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 358 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, 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
If you have lupus that's affecting your kidneys, this pill is now FDA-approved and available. It works alongside standard medications to protect your kidneys from further damage. Talk to your rheumatologist about whether voclosporin is right for you—it nearly doubled the chance of getting kidney function back to healthy levels.
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 trials
Interferon Pathway Activation in Monogenic and Nonmonogenic Forms of Pediatric SLE
Pediatric SLE includes monogenic forms, some of which involve the interferon type I (IFN-I) pathway. The IFN-I pathway is renally active in adult SLE and correlates with the extent of renal damage. In pediatric SLE, and particularly in lupus nephritis, activation of the IFN-I pathway has never been studied, nor is it known whether monogenic forms underlie more pronounced interferon activation.
A Study of OL-108 in Relapsed/Refractory Autoimmune Diseases
This study aims to characterize the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of OL-108 in relapsed/refractory autoimmune diseases.