Lupus nephritis is a complication of lupus that refers to the kidney inflammation and damage that can occur. In lupus nephritis, the affected individual’s immune system mistakenly attacks the kidneys, damaging the glomeruli. Normally, the glomeruli help the kidneys filter waste from the body. When they’re damaged, the kidneys have trouble filtering out excess waste and fluids, leading to complications. Lupus nephritis is more common in people of Black or Asian descent, as well as women. Nearly 50% of adults and 80% of children with lupus will develop lupus nephritis. People may experience symptoms such as joint pain and swelling, dark or foamy urine, swelling of the feet and ankles, high blood pressure, fever, muscle pain, decreased urine output, and a red, butterfly-shaped rash on the face.
Lupus nephritis is a variable condition. Some individuals show few symptoms; others experience severe symptoms. While available medications can be helpful in managing the condition, many people do not respond well to the standards-of-care, which include immunosuppressant drugs and corticosteroids. Additionally, immunosuppressant use can lead to unintended consequences such as a heightened risk of infections.
Clinical-stage immunotherapy company Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. (“Artiva”) is working to overcome these challenges through the development of AlloNK (AB-101), an allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapy candidate. As Artiva explains on its website:
AlloNK® is…designed to enhance the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) effect of monoclonal antibodies or NK cell engagers. AlloNK can enhance the ADCC effect of a targeting monoclonal antibody or NK cell engager to elicit the elimination of pathogenic autoantibody producing B-cells or cancerous cells…[and] can be combined with different antibodies or NK cell engagers to attack different targets on pathogenic cells.
Outside of lupus nephritis, Artiva is also exploring AlloNK for oncology indications, including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and relapsed or refractory CD30-positive lymphomas. The therapy performed well in a Phase 1/2 study on non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which all enrolled participants achieved non-quantifiable peripheral B-cell levels within 8-15 days.
Analyzing a New Potential Lupus Nephritis Therapy
According to a news release from Artiva, the company recently dosed its first patient in a Phase 1 clinical study. Within the study, researchers are working to identify the safety, tolerability, and preliminary activity of AlloNK as a monotherapy or with rituximab after cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. Participants enrolled in the study must be adults with Class III or IV relapsed or refractory lupus nephritis. Additionally, participants have tried other therapies or treatment approaches, but have either not responded or relapsed during treatment.
The estimated trial completion date is October 2026.
