Recruiting

Testing a new medication to treat active lupus kidney disease

Plain-English translation of NCT05268289 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

Read our Lupus Nephritis research guide →

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This study is testing a medication called iptacopan to see if it works better than standard treatment alone for people with active lupus nephritis (lupus affecting the kidneys). Participants will receive iptacopan along with their regular lupus medications, and researchers will track how well the medication works and how safe it is.

Lupus nephritis is a serious condition where the immune system attacks the kidneys, and current treatments don't work well enough for everyone. This trial is exploring whether this medication can provide better kidney protection and reduce the inflammation that damages the kidneys.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with lupus and have lupus affecting your kidneys (confirmed by a kidney biopsy within the past 3 months)
you have active lupus kidney disease that requires treatment with corticosteroids and other standard medications
your kidney function is adequate enough for the study (eGFR of 30 or higher)
you have received vaccinations against meningitis, pneumonia, and Haemophilus influenzae
you are either having your first episode of lupus kidney disease or experiencing a flare of a previous episode

You likely don't qualify if…

you have received cyclophosphamide treatment within the past 3 months
you have severe and rapidly declining kidney function (a 50% drop in the past 3 months)
your kidney biopsy shows extensive scarring that would prevent your kidneys from responding to treatment
you are taking high doses of corticosteroids for reasons other than lupus
you have recently received very high-dose intravenous steroid treatments (more than 1000 mg total in the past 2 weeks)

What participation looks like

You would be randomly assigned to either receive the new medication combined with your standard lupus treatment, or standard treatment with a placebo. Throughout the study, you'll visit the clinic for regular check-ups, blood tests, and kidney function monitoring to see how the treatment is working. The study has two parts designed to find the best dose and confirm the medication's safety and effectiveness.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 2, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(103 sites)

United States

AKDHC Medical Research ServicesLLC, Phoenix, Arizona

Kaiser Permanente Fontana, Fontana, California

Univ Calif Irvine, Irvine, California

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

Loma Linda University, San Bernardino, California