Benzinga | May 21, 2021 07:58AM EDT

Aurinia's Lupkynis Shows Sustained Renal Response Rates In Lupus Nephritis Patients

* Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: AUPH) has announced a supportive interim analysis of its AURORA 2 continuation study evaluating Lupkynis (voclosporin) in lupus nephritis.

* Data will be presented at the upcoming European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2021 Congress in June.

* Subjects who completed one year of treatment in Aurinia's Phase 3 AURORA 1 study were eligible to enroll in the continuation study (AURORA 2).

* The interim analysis of AURORA 2 showed that subjects in the Lupkynis treatment arm sustained meaningful reductions in proteinuria, with no change in mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 104 weeks of treatment.

* Proteinuria continued to improve with a greater reduction in UPCR from pre-treatment baseline to year two observed in the voclosporin arm compared to the control arm (-3.1 vs. -2.1 mg/mg).

* A greater reduction in proteinuria between arms was observed between 1 and 2 years (1.0 vs. 0.6 mg/mg; voclosporin vs. control).

* Renal function as determined by eGFR remained stable over 104 weeks in both groups compared to baseline assessments.

* Mean eGFR: 79.6 vs 79.0 mL/min for the voclosporin arm and 78.9 vs 82.9 mL/min for the control arm.

* Additionally, there were no unexpected new adverse events observed.

* Price Action: AUPH shares closed at $12.82 on Thursday.