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Anifrolumab: First Approval

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Abstract

Anifrolumab (anifrolumab-fnia; Saphnelo™) is a monoclonal antibody antagonist of the type 1 interferon receptor (IFNAR). It is being developed by AstraZeneca (under license from Medarex, now Bristol-Myers Squibb) for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis, the underlying pathogenesis of which involves type 1 interferon. In July 2021, intravenous anifrolumab was approved in the USA for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe SLE who are receiving standard therapy. Anifrolumab (intravenous or subcutaneous) continues to be assessed in clinical studies in SLE in various countries, and the intravenous formulation is under regulatory review in the EU and Japan. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of anifrolumab leading to this first approval for the treatment of moderate to severe SLE.

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    Emma D. Deeks

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  1. Emma D. Deeks
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Correspondence to Emma D. Deeks.

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The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

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During the peer review process the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on the article. Changes resulting from any comments received were made by the authors on the basis of scientific completeness and accuracy. Emma Deeks is a contracted employee of Adis International Ltd/Springer Nature, and declares no relevant conflicts of interest. All authors contributed to the review and are responsible for the article content.

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This profile has been extracted and modified from the AdisInsight database. AdisInsight tracks drug development worldwide through the entire development process, from discovery, through pre-clinical and clinical studies to market launch and beyond.

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Deeks, E.D. Anifrolumab: First Approval. Drugs 81, 1795–1802 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-021-01604-z

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