About the study

The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate efficacy of BIIB059 (litifilimab) compared with placebo in participants with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who are receiving background lupus standard of care (SOC) therapy in reducing disease activity. Secondary objectives of this study are to demonstrate early onset of efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in participants with active SLE, who are receiving background lupus SOC therapy in reducing disease activity; to demonstrate organ-specific efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in participants with active SLE, who are receiving background lupus SOC therapy in reducing joint disease activity; to demonstrate effect of BIIB059 compared with placebo in reducing oral corticosteroid (OCS) use; to demonstrate organ-specific efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in participants with active SLE, who are receiving background lupus SOC therapy in reducing skin disease activity; to demonstrate efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in participants with active SLE, who are receiving background lupus SOC therapy in reducing occurrence of flare up to Week 52; to evaluate additional efficacy of BIIB059 compared with placebo in reducing disease activity with additional disease activity measures; to evaluate the effect of BIIB059 compared with placebo in reducing OCS use; to assess the difference between BIIB059 and placebo on participant-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL), symptoms, and impacts of SLE; to evaluate the safety and tolerability of BIIB059 in participants with active SLE; and to evaluate immunogenicity of BIIB059 in participants with active SLE.

Who can take part?

You may be eligible to participate in the study if you meet the following criteria:

Inclusion criteria

1. Participant must be diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at least 24 weeks prior to screening and must meet the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) / American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE at screening by a qualified physician.
2. Participant has a modified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score ≥ 6 (excluding alopecia, fever, lupus-related headache, and organic brain syndrome) at screening (adjudicated).
3. Participant has a modified clinical SLEDAI-2K score ≥ 4 (excluding anti-dsDNA, low complement component 3 (C3) and/or complement component 4 (C4), alopecia, fever, lupus-related headache, and organic brain syndrome) at Screening (adjudicated) and randomization.
4. Participant has BILAG-2004 grade A in ≥ 1 organ system or BILAG-2004 grade B in ≥ 2 organ systems at Screening (adjudicated) and randomization.
5. Participant must be treated with one of the following background nonbiologic lupus SOC therapies, initiated ≥ 12 weeks prior to Screening and at stable dose ≥ 4 weeks prior to randomization:
6. Antimalarials as stand-alone treatment
7. Antimalarial treatment in combination with OCS and/or a single immunosuppressant
8. Treatment with OCS and/or a single immunosuppressant Key

Exclusion criteria

1. History of or positive test result for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
2. Current hepatitis C infection (defined as positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody and detectable HCV ribonucleic acid [RNA]).
3. Current hepatitis B infection (defined as positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and/or total hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc]).
4. History of severe herpes infection.
5. Presence of uncontrolled or New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure.
6. Active severe lupus nephritis where, in the opinion of the Investigator, protocol-specified SOC is insufficient and use of a more aggressive therapeutic approach is indicated, such as adding IV cyclophosphamide and/or high-dose IV pulse corticosteroid therapy or other treatments not permitted in the protocol is indicated; or urine protein-creatinine ratio > 2.0 or severe chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 milliliters per minute per 1.73 meter square [mL/min/1.73 m^2]) calculated using the abbreviated modification of diet in renal disease equation.
7. Any active skin conditions other than cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) that may interfere with the study assessment of CLE such as but not limited to psoriasis, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis, non-LE skin lupus manifestation or drug-induced lupus.
8. History or current diagnosis of a clinically significant non-SLE-related vasculitis syndrome.
9. Active neuropsychiatric SLE.
10. Use of oral prednisone (or equivalent) above 20 mg/day. Note: Other protocol defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria may apply.

For a full list of inclusion/exclusion criteria, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov

Study locations

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How to apply

Determine if a study site for this clinical trial is near you. Contact the study to apply.