Amgen Acquires ChemoCentryx, AAV Therapy Tavneos

Amgen Acquires ChemoCentryx, AAV Therapy Tavneos

Amgen is the new owner of Tavneos (avacopan), an approved ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) therapy, following its successful $3.7 billion cash acquisition of ChemoCentryx. “ChemoCentryx enhances Amgen’s leading inflammation and nephrology portfolio and includes Tavneos (avacopan), a first-in-class treatment for severe active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis (ANCA-associated vasculitis), an…

Patterns of Lung Disease Differ According to AAV Type, Study Says

The occurrence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and its pattern on high-resolution imaging scans vary according to the profile of self-reactive antibodies in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), according to a recent study. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) are two types of ANCA-associated vasculitis. ILD…

AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Tied to AAV-related Kidney Damage

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine may have triggered kidney inflammation linked to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) in a 51-year-old woman, according to a case report. “Due to the temporal association between the application of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and the onset of renal [kidney] function decline in a previously healthy patient, it…

Immune Macrophages Play Key Role in Kidney Inflammation in AAV

Immune macrophages or cells that carry the proteins CD163 and/or CD206 play a key role in kidney inflammation in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a study reported. Researchers found that these distinct macrophages contribute to the inflammatory process in different ways. Moreover, the team determined that both CD163 and…

Prednisolone Dose, Poorer Kidney Health Linked to Severe COVID-19

Poorer kidney function and relatively high doses of the corticosteroid prednisolone — possibly indicating active disease — can increase the risk of severe COVID-19 for people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a Swedish study suggests. “Our findings highlight risks and suggest that more attention should be given to optimal AAV treatment in…

Risk Factors for Acute Exacerbation in ANCA-ILD ID’d in New Study

Poor lung function and high levels of inflammatory biomarkers in the bloodstream were found to be risk factors for acute exacerbation — an episode of sudden symptom worsening — in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated interstitial lung disease. That’s according to a new study, “Acute exacerbation…

Switzerland OK’s Tavneos as Add-on Therapy for GPA, MPA

Tavneos (avacopan) has been approved as an add-on therapy for adults in Switzerland with severe, active microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) or granulomatosis polyangiitis (GPA), the two main types of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Following the decision by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, Swissmedic, the launch of Tavneos is expected…

Remedies and Routines From 18 Years of Seeking Better Health

Though a new diagnosis can be overwhelming, there’s no doubt it’s educational. Even after years of living with vasculitis, there’s still more to research and experience. Once the immediate danger has passed, there’s more luxury of time to relax into a chronic illness lifestyle. As we learn about…