News

Reduced dose of cancer drug helps AAV patients, study finds

A reduced dose of obinutuzumab, an immunosuppressant approved for certain blood cancers, safely helped most adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) achieve sustained disease remission, while reducing their need for standard glucocorticoids. That’s according to a single-center study in China involving 12 adults with hard-to-treat AAV and four adults with…

Combination therapy may safely stabilize AAV-related lung disease

A combination of rituximab (sold as Rituxan and biosimilars) and low-dose glucocorticoids may safely stabilize interstitial lung disease (ILD) related to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), according to a small proof-of-concept study by researchers in Italy. After a year of this therapeutic regimen, the study’s participants saw a significant reduction…

Kidney proteins could be key to diagnosing, treating AAV: Study

Four proteins in the kidneys likely contribute to the development of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and may be used as diagnostic markers and targets of potential therapies, a study found. The proteins — PDK4, PPARGC1A, FN1, and PSMB10 — are “novel biomarkers that may refine our understanding and management of AAV,”…

Worse disease burden found for EGPA patients with MPO-ANCAs

A greater disease burden and poorer physical quality of life were found for people with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) who test positive for self-reactive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) against the myeloperoxidase (MPO) protein compared with EGPA patients who don’t have such autoantibodies. Those are the findings of a new…

Early use of Tavneos in AAV may prevent irreversible organ damage

Treatment with Tavneos (avacopan) appeared to more effectively suppress organ damage — while also significantly lowering glucocorticoid dosages and associated adverse events — in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), according to a real-world study in Japan. The study looked at the safety and effectiveness of glucocorticoids plus rituximab…

Early results from trial testing NKX019 for AAV expected soon

Preliminary data from a Phase 1 clinical trial testing NKX019, Nkarta’s cell therapy candidate for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and other autoimmune conditions, are expected in the second half of this year. That’s according to a mid-year update from the biotechnology company, which is developing the natural killer (NK) cell…