Evaluating Telitacicept for treating lupus nephritis

A Phase Ⅱ, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Telitacicept in Lupus Nephritis

Phase 2 Interventional RemeGen Co., Ltd. · NCT05680480

This study is testing if a new medication called Telitacicept can help adults with lupus nephritis feel better compared to a placebo while they continue their usual treatment.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
SponsorRemeGen Co., Ltd. Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsrituximab, Belimumab
Locations45 sites (Hefei, Anhui and 44 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05680480 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase 2, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of Telitacicept in adult patients with active proliferative lupus nephritis. Participants will receive either Telitacicept at two different dosages or a placebo while continuing their standard of care treatment. The study focuses on patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and active renal disease requiring induction therapy. The effectiveness will be measured against the standard treatment to determine any improvements in patient outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-75 with active, biopsy-proven proliferative lupus nephritis.

Not a fit: Patients with non-proliferative lupus nephritis or those not requiring induction therapy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new therapeutic option for patients suffering from lupus nephritis.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise with similar biologic treatments for lupus nephritis, indicating potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Main Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males or females aged 18-75 years of age, inclusive.
2. Diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus according to American College of Rheumatology criteria (1997).
3. Active, biopsy-proven proliferative lupus nephritis Class III or IV with/without the presence of Class V, or pure Class V according to the 2003 ISN/RPS classification. The renal biopsy must be performed within 1 year prior to the screening visit or during screening period. The biopsy report will be used to confirm subject eligibility.
4. Positive serum antibody results, defined as positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and/or a positive anti-dsDNA serum antibody based on the study\'s central laboratory results.
5. Active renal disease at screening requiring induction therapy with high dose corticosteroids (HDCS) with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or other oral forms of mycophenolate.
6. Induction therapy for active renal disease: HDCS with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or other oral forms of mycophenolate should be initiated within 60 days prior to or on Day 1 (baseline). Initiation of induction is when both HDCS and MMF have been started.
7. Able to understand the requirements of the study and provide written informed consent.

Main Exclusion Criteria:

1. Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to any drug products they plan to receive (e.g., MMF, corticosteroids).
2. History of allergy to parenteral administration of contrast agents, human or murine proteins or monoclonal antibodies.
3. Received any of the following therapies:

   1. Treatment with any B cell targeted therapy (e.g., rituximab), unless it can be shown that B cells have returned to baseline level or normal;
   2. Received tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, interleukin receptor blockers, or other small molecules or biologics (including Belimumab) during the 12 weeks prior to screening or the 5 half-lives of the drug, whichever is longer;
   3. Received any experimental drugs during the 12 weeks prior to screening or the 5 half-lives of the drug, whichever is longer;
   4. Received plasma separation or plasma exchange during the 6 weeks prior to screening;
   5. Subjects who required dialysis within 1 year prior to screening.
   6. Received a live vaccine or live-attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to screening or expected to vaccinate during the study.
   7. Received BCG Vaccine within 1 year prior to screening.
4. History of severe active central nervous system (CNS) lupus (including seizures, psychosis, organic brain syndrome, cerebrovascular accident, cerebritis, or CNS vasculitis) requiring intervention within 60 days of baseline (Day 1).
5. History of a major organ transplant (e.g., heart, lung, kidney, liver) or hematopoietic stem cell/marrow transplant or are due to receive transplantation.
6. Significant, unstable or uncontrolled acute or chronic diseases not due to SLE (i.e., cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, neurological, malignancy, or infectious diseases) which, in the opinion of the principal investigator, could confound the results of the study or put the subject at undue risk.
7. Plan to undergo surgery or have any medical disease, laboratory abnormality, or condition that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, makes the subject unsuitable for the study.
8. History of drug or alcohol abuse or dependence within 364 days prior to baseline (Day 1).
9. Nursing or pregnant female, or male or female who prepared for parenthood during the study.
10. History of malignant tumors within the last 5 years, excluding adequately treated skin cancer (basal or squamous cell) or carcinoma in situ of cervix.
11. Have acute or chronic infection requiring treatment.
12. HIV positive.
13. Hepatitis B: Patients positive for HBsAg are excluded; Patients negative for HBsAg but positive for Anti-HBc, regardless of Anti-HBs antibody status, will require test for HBV DNA: if HBV DNA positive, patients will be excluded; if HBV DNA negative, patients will be eligible to enroll.
14. Hepatitis C antibody positive.
15. History of COVID-19 within 4 weeks prior to screening or history of hospitalization due to severe Covid-19 within 12 months prior to screening.
16. eGFR\<30 mL/min/1.73 m2 using CKD-EPI.
17. Renal biopsy showed 50% glomerulosclerosis.
18. Have a Grade 3 or greater laboratory abnormality based on the Adverse Event Severity Grading Tables.
19. Subjects who in the opinion of the investigator are not suitable to participate.

Where this trial is running

Hefei, Anhui and 44 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Lupus NephritislupusnephritisTelitaciceptRC 18
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.