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BACKGROUND AND AIMS Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the leading cause of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide with limited treatment options, especially for high-risk patients [1]. BION-1301 is a novel humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), a soluble factor that has been shown to be elevated in patients with IgAN and is correlated with poorer outcomes, including increased proteinuria and decreased eGFR [2, 3]. APRIL promotes IgA class switching, the survival of IgA-secreting plasma cells and the excess production of a galactose-deficient variant form of IgA1 (Gd-IgA1), which is an initiating step in the multi-hit pathogenesis of IgAN. This leads to the generation of anti-Gd-IgA1 autoantibodies and the formation of nephritogenic immune complexes that deposit in the kidney, resulting in inflammation and damage [2–4]. Blocking APRIL with BION-1301 is a novel approach to address the underlying pathogenesis of IgAN by reducing circulating levels of Gd-IgA1 and preventing the formation of pathogenic immune complexes. The primary objective of this Phase 1/2 study is to assess the safety and tolerability of BION-1301 in healthy volunteers (HV) and patients with IgAN, and secondarily to assess the PK, PD, immunogenicity and preliminary clinical activity. METHOD The Phase 1/2 study (NCT03945318) is comprised of three parts. Parts 1 and 2 were blinded, placebo-controlled single and multiple ascending dose designs in HV and have been completed. Part 3 is a multicenter (USA, UK, South Korea), multicohort, open-label study in up to 40 patients with IgAN. Patients in Cohort 1 receive 450 mg of BION-1301 administered IV every 2 weeks for up to 1 year. After completing at least 24 weeks of IV dosing, patients in Cohort 1 transitioned from receiving 450 mg of BION-1301 IV to receiving 600 mg of BION-1301 SC every 2 weeks. Patients in Cohort 2 receive 600 mg of BION-1301 SC every 2 weeks for up to 1 year. Additional cohorts may be added to explore other doses and dosing schedules. Key eligibility criteria for Part 3 include: (1) biopsy-verified diagnosis of IgAN within 10 years, (2) baseline urine protein excretion ≥ 0.5 g/24 h or UPCR ≥ 0.5 g/g and (3) stable/optimized dose of ACE-I/ARB (or intolerant). RESULTS Final HV data from Parts 1 and 2 have been presented at earlier conferences [5]. Part 3 is on-going and updated interim data from patients with IgAN in Cohort 1 who received BION-1301 IV as well as patients who transitioned to SC dosing are planned to be presented at the 59th ERA Congress. CONCLUSION The current design of the Phase 1/2 study incorporating SC dosing provides for an improved patient experience and will enable the generation of extended safety, PK, PD, immunogenicity and preliminary efficacy data for the potential use of BION-1301 in patients with IgAN.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the leading cause of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide with limited treatment options, especially for high-risk patients [1]. BION-1301 is a novel humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), a soluble factor that has been shown to be elevated in patients with IgAN and is correlated with poorer outcomes, including increased proteinuria and decreased eGFR [2, 3]. APRIL promotes IgA class switching, the survival of IgA-secreting plasma cells and the excess production of a galactose-deficient variant form of IgA1 (Gd-IgA1), which is an initiating step in IgAN pathogenesis. This leads to the generation of anti-Gd-IgA1 autoantibodies, considered to be the first ‘hit’ in the multi-hit pathogenesis of IgAN, and the formation of nephritogenic immune complexes that deposit in the kidney, resulting in inflammation and damage [2–4]. Blocking APRIL with BION-1301 is a novel approach to address the underlying pathogenesis of IgAN by reducing circulating levels of Gd-IgA1 and preventing the formation of pathogenic immune complexes. In a Phase 1/2 study of BION-1301 in healthy volunteers (HV), BION-1301 was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events (SAEs), demonstrated a pharmacokinetic (PK) half-life > 30 days and durable dose-dependent reductions in free APRIL (fAPRIL), Gd-IgA1, IgA and IgM, with a lesser effect on IgG [5]. Here we present updated interim results from Part 3 of the study that characterize the safety, PK/PD profile and preliminary efficacy of BION-1301 initially administered intravenously (IV), then subcutaneously (SC), in patients with IgAN. METHOD Parts 1 and 2 of the Phase 1/2 study (NCT03945318) assessing single and multiple ascending doses of BION-1301 in HV are complete. Part 3 is an ongoing, open-label, multicohort design in patients with IgAN treated with BION-1301 for up to 1 year. Key eligibility criteria for Part 3 include: (i) biopsy-verified diagnosis of IgAN within the past 10 years, (ii) baseline urine protein excretion ≥ 0.5 g/24 h or UPCR ≥ 0.5 g/g and (iii) stable/optimized dose of ACE-I/ARB (or intolerant). Cohort 1 receives 450 mg of BION-1301 administered IV every 2 weeks. After at least 24 weeks of IV dosing, patients’ transition to 600 mg of BION-1301 administered SC every 2 weeks. Cohort 2 receives 600 mg of BION-1301 SC every 2 weeks. To evaluate PK/PD effects of BION-1301, serum levels of BION-1301, fAPRIL, anti-drug antibodies (ADA), neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and Gd-IgA1 were quantitated using ELISA-based immunoassays. RESULTS Updated data from Cohort 1 will be reported. BION-1301 was well-tolerated in patients with IgAN receiving a 450 mg IV dose every 2 weeks for at least 24 weeks, with no SAEs or early terminations due to AEs. Durable reductions in serum levels of fAPRIL and immunoglobulins were observed in patients with IgAN. Clinically meaningful reductions in proteinuria were seen as early as 12 weeks and were associated with the reduction in Gd-IgA1 levels. CONCLUSION BION-1301 offers disease-modifying potential by directly targeting the initiating mechanisms underlying the multi-hit immune pathogenesis of IgAN, which is not addressed with currently available treatments. Promising early mechanistic biomarker and clinical activity responses support the therapeutic potential of BION-1301 in IgAN.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis in the developed world. Up to 40% of patients with IgAN are at risk of progressing to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), with proteinuria being a strong predictor of disease progression. Treatments that reduce proteinuria in IgAN are accompanied by eGFR preservation and improved kidney outcomes.[1] Endothelin A (ETA) receptor activation is a key driver of proteinuria, inflammation and fibrosis in patients with glomerular diseases.[2] Therefore, ETA receptor blockade has potential to be of therapeutic benefit for patients with proteinuric glomerular diseases, including IgAN. Atrasentan, a potent and selective ETA receptor antagonist that has demonstrated clinically significant reductions in proteinuria and risk of ESKD in a study of over 5300 patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD), represents a potential therapy to reduce proteinuria and preserve kidney function in patients with IgAN and other glomerular diseases.[3] AFFINITY is a global, phase 2, open-label basket study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atrasentan in patients with proteinuric glomerular diseases due to IgAN, Alport syndrome, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and DKD. Here we present interim results from the first 17 patients enrolled in the IgAN cohort of the AFFINITY study, through week 12 of treatment. METHOD Approximately 20 patients will be enrolled in the IgAN cohort. They must have biopsy proven IgAN, be receiving a maximally tolerated and stable dose of renin angiotensin system inhibitor and have a urine protein creatinine ratio [UPCR] between 0.5 and RESULTS A total of 17 patients have enrolled in the IgAN cohort as of 4 January 2022. A total of 12 and 8 patients have completed visits through Week 6 and Week 12, respectively. The median age is 47 years and 41% are women. The geometric mean (GM) baseline proteinuria is 1.2 g/day, and median eGFR is 41 mL/min/1.73 m2 (Table 1). The 8 patients on treatment through Week 12 had a GM % reduction from baseline in 24-h UPCR of 43.6% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 29.0–55.2] (Figure 1). Pharmacokinetic data are currently available for nine patients and showed a mean trough plasma atrasentan concentration in the targeted therapeutic range. Adverse events (AE) were observed in nne patients (53%), all mild or moderate in severity, most of which have resolved. One patient experienced an unrelated serious adverse event of traffic accident without long-term injuries. All patients remain on treatment with study drug except for one patient who discontinued drug due to an unrelated AE at week 13. CONCLUSION Treatment of patients with IgAN with atrasentan in addition to standard of care provided a >43% GM reduction in proteinuria after 12 weeks and was well tolerated, strongly supporting a key role of the endothelin pathway in the pathogenesis of IgAN. The ongoing phase 3 ALIGN study for patients with IgAN and proteinuria ≥1g/day will provide further assessment of the proteinuria lowering effects of atrasentan in this high-risk patient population.

Background and Aims IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the leading cause of primary glomerulonephritis, is an autoimmune disease with no approved treatments.1 Progression to end-stage-renal disease occurs in up to 45% of IgAN patients, requiring dialysis or kidney transplant to manage.2-4 A critical step in IgAN pathogenesis is the production of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) leading to the generation of anti-Gd-IgA autoantibodies and the formation of immune complexes that result in kidney inflammation and damage.5 A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL), a soluble factor that regulates B cell differentiation, proliferation and survival of plasma cells, and IgA class-switching is elevated in patients with IgAN6, 7. IgAN patients with high plasma APRIL levels are reported as having higher levels of Gd-IgA1 and proteinuria and lower estimated glomerular filtration rates compared to those with lower plasma APRIL levels.7 BION-1301 is a novel humanized blocking antibody targeting APRIL. The primary objective of Study ADU-CL-19 is to assess the short-term safety and tolerability of BION-1301 in Healthy Volunteers (HV) and IgAN patients and to secondarily assess the short-term pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), immunogenicity, and preliminary clinical activity of BION-1301. The primary objective of Study ADU-CL-24 is to characterize the long-term safety of BION-1301 in IgAN patients who completed treatment in ADU-CL-19 while secondarily assessing the long-term PK, PD, immunogenicity, and preliminary clinical activity of BION-1301. Method The Phase 1 study (ADU-CL-19; NCT03945318) comprises 3 parts. Parts 1 and 2 are double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled single and multiple ascending dose designs in HV; both parts have been completed. Part 3 is an ongoing multicenter (US and UK), multiple-dose, two cohort design in approximately 20 patients with IgAN (10/cohort). Key eligibility criteria for Part 3 includes: (1) urine protein ≥0.5 g/24h or baseline UPCR ≥0.5 g/g, (2) stable/optimized dose of ACE-I/ARB or intolerant to ACE-I/ARB, and (3) biopsy-verified diagnosis of IgAN within the past 10 years. In Part 3, patients in Cohort 1 are receiving BION-1301 at 450mg every 2 weeks for 3 months. The dose and schedule for Cohort 2 will be determined by the Safety Review Team (SRT) based on data from the first 5 patients. After 3 months of treatment, patients continue safety follow-up for approximately 6 months unless deciding to enroll in the open-label extension (OLE) study, withdraw from the study, or are lost to follow up. Study ADU-CL-24 (NCT04684745) is a Phase 2 Open-Label Extension (OLE) of Study ADU-CL-19. Eligibility for the OLE study is restricted to those patients who completed at least 75% of their intended doses as well as the End of Treatment (EOT) visit in Study ADU-CL-19. Patients who enroll directly from the ADU-CL-19 EOT visit are not required to attend an additional screening visit. This is encouraged to maintain un-interrupted dosing. Once enrolled in the OLE, patients receive BION-1301 at the same dose and regimen as assigned in the parent study for up to 2 years. The dose, route, and regimen of BION-1301 may change after review of emergent safety, PK, PD and efficacy data by the SRT. Results Parts 1 and 2 of the Phase 1 study in HV are complete and the data were presented at ASN in 20208 Part 3 of the Phase 1 and the Phase 2 OLE study are ongoing, and interim results from the first dose cohort in IgAN patients are being presented in a separate poster at this meeting. Conclusion The design of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 OLE studies described in HVs and IgAN patients have enabled the generation of short- and long-term safety, PK, PD, immunogenicity and preliminary efficacy data for BION-1301. The Phase 1 short-term data will guide the design of future later-stage trials of BION-1301, while the long-term data from OLE will enable a greater understanding of the potential long-term risk/benefit profile of BION-1301 in IgAN patients.

Background and Aims IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the leading cause of primary glomerulonephritis, is an autoimmune disease with no approved treatments.1 Progression to end-stage-renal disease occurs in up to 45% of IgAN patients, requiring dialysis or kidney transplant to manage.2-4 A critical step in IgAN pathogenesis is the production of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) leading to the generation of anti-Gd-IgA1 autoantibodies and the formation of immune complexes that result in kidney inflammation and damage.5 A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL), a soluble factor that regulates B cell differentiation, proliferation and survival of plasma cells, and IgA class-switching is elevated in patients with IgAN6, 7. IgAN patients with high plasma APRIL levels are reported as having higher levels of Gd-IgA1 and proteinuria and lower estimated glomerular filtration rates compared to those with lower plasma APRIL levels.7 BION-1301 is a novel humanized blocking antibody targeting APRIL that has been evaluated in a Phase 1 study of healthy volunteers (HV). In Parts 1 and 2 of the Phase 1 study in HV, we previously reported that BION-1301 was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events (SAEs), a pharmacokinetic (PK) half life >30 days and demonstrated dose-dependent pharmacodynamic (PD) effects characterized by durable reductions in serum levels of free April (fAPRIL), IgA and Gd-IgA1, IgM, and to a lesser extent IgG8. Here we present interim results from Part 3 of the Phase 1 and the Phase 2 Open-Label Extension (OLE) trials that characterize the safety, PK and PD profile, and preliminary efficacy of BION-1301 in patients with IgAN. Method The Phase 1 study (NCT03945318) comprises 3 parts. Parts 1 and 2 assessed single- and multiple ascending doses of BION-1301 in HV from 10mg to 1350mg and 50mg to 450mg once every 2 weeks for one month, respectively. Part 3 is an ongoing, open-label, two cohort design in approximately 20 IgAN patients with BION-1301 at a starting dose and regimen of 450mg once every 2 weeks for a total of 3 months. Key eligibility criteria for Part 3 include: (1) urine protein ≥0.5 g/24h or baseline UPCR ≥0.5 g/g, (2) stable/optimized dose of ACE-I/ARB or be intolerant to ACE-I/ARB, and (3) biopsy-verified diagnosis of IgAN within the past 10 years. Patients completing Part 3 are eligible to enroll in the Phase 2 OLE study (NCT04684745) to receive BION-1301 for up to an additional 2 years. To evaluate PK and PD effects of BION-1301, serum levels of BION-1301, free APRIL (fAPRIL), anti-drug antibodies (ADA), neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), and Gd-IgA1 were quantitated using ELISA-based immunoassays. Serum levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM were measured by immunoturbidimetry. UPCR was assessed from 24-hour urine collections. Results In Part 3 of Phase 1 and the Phase 2 OLE trial to date, BION-1301 has been well tolerated in IgAN patients receiving a 450mg dose every two weeks for 12+ weeks with no SAEs observed. Consistent with PD responses previously reported in HVs, durable reductions in serum levels of fAPRIL and immunoglobulins were also observed in IgAN patients. Clinically meaningful reductions in proteinuria were observed as early as 12 weeks and were associated with the reduction in IgA. Additional data from patients receiving long-term treatment will be updated. Conclusion BION-1301 is a novel humanized anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody being developed as a potential treatment for patients with IgAN. BION-1301 offers disease modifying potential by directly targeting the underlying multi-hit immune pathogenesis of IgAN, which is not addressed with the current standard of care treatment. Promising early biomarker and clinical activity responses support the continued development of BION-1301 in IgAN.

Lorcaserin, a novel selective 5-HT2C receptor agonist, is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight management in combination with lifestyle modification for adults with obesity and adults with overweight and ≥ 1 weight-related comorbid condition. The safety and effectiveness of lorcaserin in adult patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus was established based on 2 phase III clinical trials of similar design: Behavioral Modification and Lorcaserin for Overweight and Obesity Management (BLOOM) and Behavioral Modification and Lorcaserin Second Study for Obesity Management (BLOSSOM). This report presents a prespecified analysis of pooled data from these trials.Co-primary end points in this analysis include the proportion of patients with a reduction in baseline body weight of ≥ 5% and ≥ 10%, and a change in weight from baseline. Key secondary end points include changes from baseline values in lipid parameters, quality-of-life measures, glycemic indicators, and vital signs.At week 52, more than twice as many lorcaserin-treated patients achieved a weight loss of ≥ 5% compared with placebo (lorcaserin, 47.1%; placebo, 22.6%), and lorcaserin-treated patients lost significantly more body weight (lorcaserin, -5.8%; placebo, -2.5%). A significantly greater proportion of lorcaserin-treated patients achieved a weight loss of ≥ 10% (lorcaserin, 22.4%; placebo, 8.7%). There were statistically significant improvements in lipid parameters, glycemic indicators, quality-of-life measures, and vital signs in the lorcaserin group compared with placebo. The most common adverse events associated with lorcaserin treatment were headache, upper respiratory tract infection, and nasopharyngitis. Lorcaserin-treated patients had a rate of FDA-defined valvulopathy similar to placebo.This pooled analysis of the phase III BLOOM and BLOSSOM trials shows that lorcaserin 10 mg twice daily, in combination with diet and exercise, is safe and tolerable, and is associated with statistically significant weight loss and clinically relevant improvements in cardiometabolic parameters.

Background. Cardiovascular disease, the most common cause of death with a functioning graft among kidney transplant recipients, can be exacerbated by immunosuppressive drugs, particularly the calcineurin inhibitors. Belatacept, a selective co-stimulation blocker, may provide a better cardiovascular/metabolic risk profile than current immunosuppressants. Methods. Cardiovascular and metabolic endpoints from two Phase III studies (BENEFIT and BENEFIT-EXT) of belatacept-based regimens in kidney transplant recipients were assessed at month 12. Each study assessed belatacept in more intensive (MI) and less intensive (LI) regimens versus cyclosporine A (CsA). These secondary endpoints included changes in blood pressure, changes in serum lipids, and the incidence of new-onset diabetes after transplant (NODAT). Results. A total of 1209 patients were randomized and transplanted across the two studies. Mean systolic blood pressure was 6 to 9 mm Hg lower and mean diastolic blood pressure was 3 to 4 mm Hg lower in the MI and LI groups versus CsA (P≤0.002) across both studies at month 12. Non-HDL cholesterol was lower in the belatacept groups versus CsA (P

Introduction Lorcaserin is a selective serotonin 2C receptor agonist approved by the Food and Drug Administration for chronic weight management. Preclinical data suggest that it may also be effective in smoking cessation through modulation of the dopaminergic reward system. Methods This was a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 30 centers in the United States. Six hundred three adult smokers with a Body Mass Index of 18.5-35 kg/m2, averaging at least 10 cigarettes/day with no period of abstinence >3 months for the past year were randomized to lorcaserin 10 mg once daily (QD), 10 mg twice daily (BID) or placebo; all received standardized smoking cessation counseling weekly. The target quit date was day 15. The primary endpoint was the exhaled carbon monoxide confirmed Continuous Abstinence Rate for weeks 9-12 (month 3). Results Continuous Abstinence Rates for month 3 were 5.6%, 8.7%, and 15.3% for the placebo, QD and BID groups, respectively (BID vs. placebo odds ratio 3.02, 95% confidence interval 1.47, 6.22, p = .0027. Change in weight at week 12 (randomized population) was -0.01, -0.35 and -0.98 kg, respectively (p = .0004, BID vs. placebo), and +0.73, +0.76, and -0.41 kg in participants achieving month 3 continuous abstinence. The most frequent adverse events were headache, nausea, constipation, and fatigue. Conclusions Lorcaserin with counseling was associated with dose-related increases in smoking cessation and prevention of associated weight gain over a 3-month period. Further investigation of lorcaserin in smoking cessation is warranted. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT02044874. Implications This randomized, controlled trial demonstrated that lorcaserin used in conjunction with standard cessation counseling was associated with dose-related increases in smoking cessation and prevention of associated weight gain. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration in humans of a potential role of 5-HT2C agonism in the modulation of central neurological circuits involved with reward.