New combo therapy for lupus kidney disease shows promise in asian trial

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Biopsy-proven LN Class III/IV±V (ISN/RPS 2003), with biopsy performed within 12 weeks of randomization. 2. Positive anti-dsDNA. 3. Active LN with proteinuria (urine protein/creatinine ratio ≥1.0 or 24-hr urine protein ≥1.0 g at baseline), with or without hematuria. 4. Both 'incident' (i.e. new) patients and 'flare' patients can be included. 5. Males or females aged 18 to 75 years inclusive at the time of screening. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Renal disease unrelated to SLE (e.g. diabetes mellitus, other glomerular or tubulointerstitial disease, renovascular disease), or transplanted kidney. 2. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR by MDRD) ≤20 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or serum creatinine ≥300 micromol/L (3.39 mg/dL) at screening. 3. Renal biopsy showing cellular or fibrocellular crescent in more than 25% of glomeruli. 4. CNS or other severe organ manifestation of lupus that necessitate aggressive immunosuppressive therapy on its own. 5. Co-morbidities that require corticosteroid therapy (e.g. asthma, inflammatory bowel disease). 6. Treatment with prednisolone (or prednisone, or equivalent) at ≥20 mg/D for over 4 weeks within the past 3 months. 7. Treatment with MMF at \>1.5 g/D for over 4 weeks within the past 3 months. 8. Known hypersensitivity or intolerability to prednisolone (or prednisone, or equivalent), TAC, or MMF at a dose of 1.25 g or below per day. 9. Subjects who are already on treatment with TAC, cyclosporine or any other calcineurin inhibitor on the day of screening; or have received treatment with TAC, cyclosporine or other calcineurin inhibitor for over 4 weeks within the past 6 months. 10. Treatment with cyclophosphamide, leflunomide, or methotrexate for over 2 weeks, or use of biological agent(s) regardless of duration, within the past 6 months (Note: prior use of azathioprine, mizoribine, intravenous immunoglobulins and anti-malarials is allowed). 11. Uncontrolled hypertension with systolic BP \>160 mmHg or diastolic BP \>95 mmHg. 12. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. 13. Women with childbearing potential or their male partners, who refuse to use an effective birth control method