Patricia Inacio, PhD,  science writer—

Tavneos (avacopan), a recently approved add-on oral therapy for severe, active ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), will be distributed in the U.S. by PANTHERx, the country’s leading rare disease pharmacy. The announcement follows an agreement with ChemoCentryx, Tavneos’ developer, which selected the pharmacy as a limited distribution partner. “PANTHERx is proud…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tavneos (avacopan) as an add-on therapy for people with severe active microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), the two most common forms of ANCA-associated vasculitis. The approval comes after an advisory committee narrowly supported avacopan’s approval…

A novel index that computes five simple laboratory results at the time of diagnosis may improve predictions of all-cause mortality among patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a South Korean study reports. These lab results include the levels of immune neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, and of proteins C-reactive protein and…

A group of European experts have drafted a series of recommendations for the use of immunosuppressive therapies, such as rituximab, and the timing for COVID-19 vaccination in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Most treatment plans will require a tailored approach, and a likely delay in immunosuppressive doses during vaccination,…

More than half of the people with rare diseases and their caregivers, asked in a survey, were undecided or less than willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 if a vaccine was approved under emergency use authorization instead of the routine process, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Disease reports. These findings…

The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases is accepting applications for a scholarship program that aims to help adults with a rare disease pursue personal goals through training and education. For a second year, the #RAREis Scholarship Fund — supported by Horizon Therapeutics – will award 35 one-time scholarships, each…

Research into the potential interplay between different immune system components and coagulation in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), COVID-19 and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has won a grant from the Academic Alliance Fund (AAF). The grant was awarded to Johan van der Vlag, PhD, and Cansu Yanginlar, MSc, at the…

The majority of people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and other forms of vasculitis plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and about one-third has already received at least one dose, a recent survey shows. Yet, about 23% of respondents said they are unsure or not planning to receive a…

InflaRx has completed enrollment in its Phase 2 trial evaluating vilobelimab (IFX-1) for people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) in Europe. “We are pleased to have met our enrollment goal in the vilobelimab European phase II trial in AAV,” Korinna Pilz, MD, global head of…

Patient dosing has begun in a Phase 3 clinical trial investigating the asthma treatment Fasenra (benralizumab) in people with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a subtype of ANCA-associated vasculitis. AstraZeneca, which markets Fasenra, also announced the start of dosing in two other Phase 3 trials: one in…