In my two years after being diagnosed of Lupus Nephritis, the immunosuppressant drugs given to me are Predisone, Mythel Prednisolone, Hydro Cortisone, Hydroxycloroquine Sulfate, Mycophenololate Mofetil and Cyclophosphamide. I can say that they are all effective based on the medical program administered by our Doctors.
Just today, while reading the news, I found a new drug, an immunosuppressant drug which is effective in treating Lupus Nephritis patients. And this is the Voclosporin.
Voclosporin of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals is a calcineurin inhibator.
Calcineurin, on the other hand, according to the Wikipedia is "a calcium and
calmodulin dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase (also known as
protein phosphatase 3, and calcium-dependent serine-threonine
phosphatase). It activates the T cells of the immune system and can be
blocked by drugs." In other words, it is an enzymes that activates the T cells of the immune system which then signals the the nearby cells to activates them in order to attack the invaders. The activation of cells as a way to attack invaders is called inflammation.
So, Voclosporin when taken by a Lupus patient, combines with the Calcineurin that will cause to the change in structure of calcineurin. The structurally changed calcineurin will not be detected by the T cells thus T cells will not activate and there will be no inflammation to happen.
According to a news article about Voclosporin, "70 percent achieved partial
remission after 24 weeks of treatment and 33 percent achieved complete
remission. After 48 weeks, 49 percent of patients on voclosporin, 23.7
mg twice a day, achieved complete remission, compared to 24 percent of
those given a placebo. "
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