Johnson & Johnson recently shared early results from a clinical trial (called the JASMINE study) that tested a new medication called nipocalimab in adults with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus. The study found that nipocalimab significantly reduced lupus disease activity after 24 weeks of treatment, and these improvements continued through 52 weeks. This is encouraging news for people living with lupus, as the condition can cause ongoing symptoms and long-term damage to organs if not well-controlled.
The results were measured using two key tools: the SRI-4b, which assesses how active lupus is in the body, and the LLDAS, which looks at whether the disease is in a low-activity state. By week 24, 53.5% of patients receiving nipocalimab (at a dose of 15 mg/kg) showed a meaningful improvement in disease activity, compared to 46.7% of patients who received a placebo. By week 52, 53.6% of patients on nipocalimab still showed improvement, compared to 39.7% on placebo. More patients on nipocalimab also achieved a state of low lupus activity by week 52.
Nipocalimab works by blocking a specific receptor in the body called the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). This blocking action helps reduce the levels of harmful antibodies (called immunoglobulin G autoantibodies) and immune complexes that contribute to inflammation in lupus. This is the first time a study has shown that blocking FcRn can be effective in treating lupus, and it supports further research into this treatment approach.
Researchers also found that people who tested positive for lupus-related autoantibodies (proteins in the blood that attack the body’s own tissues) responded better to nipocalimab. About 80% of people with lupus have these autoantibodies, so this medication could potentially help a large group of patients.
Dr. Richard Furie, Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at Northwell, explained the significance of these findings: “The consistent improvements seen in disease activity and reductions in harmful antibodies are very promising. This suggests that nipocalimab could be a targeted and effective treatment for people with moderate to severe lupus, helping them achieve better control of their disease over time.”
Johnson & Johnson also reported that the safety of nipocalimab in this study was consistent with what was seen in earlier studies, with no new safety concerns identified. Mark Graham, who leads immunology research for Johnson & Johnson in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, added: “These results are an important step forward in understanding how to treat lupus, a complex disease that can greatly impact daily life for those with moderate to severe symptoms.”