Antibody Proves as a Revolutionary Hope for Lupus Nephritis

Upon reanalyzing the NOBILITY trial's second phase, scientists unveiled that obinutuzumab, an antibody pinpointing a specific immune cell protein, surpassed the placebo in maintaining kidney function and thwarting flares in lupus nephritis patients—a kidney disorder intertwined with lupus (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Kidney Outcomes and Preservation of Kidney Function With Obinutuzumab in Patients with Lupus Nephritis: A Post Hoc Analysis of the NOBILITY Trial

Go to source). In the analysis, which is published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, compared with standard-of-care treatment alone, the addition of obinutuzumab to lupus nephritis treatment reduced the risk of developing a composite outcome of death, fall in kidney function, or treatment failure by 60%.

Unveiling Obinutuzumab

Adding obinutuzumab also reduced the risk of lupus nephritis relapses by 57% and significantly decreased the decline in kidney function over the 2 years of the trial.

Overall, 38% of obinutuzumab-treated patients compared with 16% of placebo-treated patients achieved complete remission of lupus nephritis by week 76, with the need for fewer glucocorticoids.

“These data are critical because the ultimate goal of lupus nephritis therapy is to preserve kidney survival so patients never have to face the need for dialysis or transplantation because their kidneys failed,” said corresponding author Brad Rovin, MD, of Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

“The addition of obinutuzumab to standard lupus nephritis therapy may increase the likelihood of achieving this goal.”

Reference:

1. Kidney Outcomes and Preservation of Kidney Function With Obinutuzumab in Patients with Lupus Nephritis: A Post Hoc Analysis of the NOBILITY Trial - (https://acrjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.42734)

Source-Eurekalert