Voclosporin: a novel calcineurin inhibitor for the treatment of lupus nephritis.

Voclosporin is a CNI with a consistent pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship resulting from enhanced calcineurin binding and reduced drug and metabolite load. This profile permits therapeutic efficacy in LN at a dose associated with relatively low calcineurin inhibition, and therefore a potentially improved safety profile. Pivotal trials demonstrated a significant benefit of adding voclosporin to standard therapy, with rapid reduction in proteinuria, and a clinically meaningful and significantly higher CRR rate at 1 year. At approved doses for LN, potential advantages of voclosporin versus historical experience with CNIs include lack of need for therapeutic drug monitoring, benign metabolic, lipid and electrolyte profile, and no impact on mycophenolate mofetil levels.