Otsuka’s Lupkynis approved in Japan

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) has approved Otsuka’s (TYO: 4578) Lupkynis (voclosporin) for the treatment of lupus nephritis (LN), an inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease.

Lupkynis is an oral immunosuppressive agent developed for the treatment of LN. It suppresses the immune system by inhibiting calcineurin, an enzyme that is crucial for the proliferation and activation of T cells, an important element of the immune system.

LN is one of the most serious complications of SLE. In Japan, the number of SLE patients is estimated to be between 60,000 and 100,000, with women accounting for 90% of cases. It is particularly prevalent among women aged 20 to 40.