Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

After approximately $3.7 billion in acquisitions, Amgen will own the rights to Tavneos (avacopan), an approved oral therapy developed by ChemoCentryx to treat ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Amgen is acquiring ChemoCentryx in a cash deal, expected to be completed by year’s end, the companies announced. “The acquisition of ChemoCentryx represents a…

Measuring the blood levels of a protein called BAFF could help predict the chances of remission after induction treatment with rituximab in people with ANCA vasculitis (AAV), according to a new study. Determining the BAFF levels in the blood also could guide further care for AAV patients, the researchers…

Levels of five small RNA molecules were found to be highly elevated in extracellular vesicles — small packets of cellular cargo — found in the urine of people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new study reports. These preliminary findings indicate the impairment of these RNA molecules might be linked…

Health Canada has approved the oral medicine Tavneos (avacopan) as an add-on therapy to treat adults with severe ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). The approval specifically covers the use of Tavneos to treat granulomatosis polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), the two main types of AAV, in combination with…

The European Commission is expected to propose a new governing framework for health data next month, called the European Health Data Space (EHDS), with the aim of connecting national health systems to facilitate secure and efficient transfer of data across systems in different European nations. The move is expected to…

A team of scientists in Europe has developed a novel mouse model of the type of kidney damage that commonly occurs in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and identified the receptor CXCR4 as a potential target for future therapies. “This model may be a considerable benefit to research aimed at ameliorating…

Levels of a protein called KL-6 are elevated in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients who have interstitial lung diseases, indicating that KL-6 blood levels could be useful for detecting lung disease in these people, a study suggests. The study, “KL-6 in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patients with and without…

Outcomes of kidney transplants for children with kidney failure related to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are comparable to outcomes of transplants for children with other causes of kidney disease, highlighting that the procedure is generally safe and effective for children with AAV. That’s according to the study “…

The case of a man in Saudi Arabia with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), a form of ANCA-associated vasculitis, highlights the difficulties that can occur in diagnosing this disease, a case study reports. The report is one of the few documented instances of GPA in Saudi Arabia. The study, “…

A committee of the European Medicines Agency has recommended approving Tavneos (avacopan) as an add-on therapy for adults with severe, active microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) or granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), the two most common types of ANCA-associated vasculitis. This recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use…