Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT05039840

Efficacy and Safety of Frexalimab (SAR441344) in the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This is a multinational, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel treatment, Phase 2, double-blind, 2 arm study evaluating the efficacy and safety of SAR441344 in comparison with placebo in the treatment of participants aged 18 to 70 years with active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Study details include:

* Study duration: 36 weeks * Treatment duration: 24 weeks * Visit frequency: every 2 weeks

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Notify Me

Key information

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Investigational Site Number : 0320008, Berazategui, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of SLE for at least 6 months prior to screening by fulfilling the Revised Criteria for Classification of SLE according to the 1997 Update of the 1982 ACR criteria
  • Positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) (titer ≥1:80) during screening
  • Positivity for at least one serological characteristic
  • Total hSELENA-SLEDAI score ≥6 (including points attributed from arthritis and rash) during screening and at least 4 points from clinical features at randomization as confirmed by a Sponsor-selected independent reviewer(s)
  • At least 1 BILAG A score or 2 BILAG B scores during screening as confirmed by a Sponsor-selected independent reviewer(s)
  • Receiving at least one of the standard of care (SOC) for SLE (combination is possible)
  • Body weight within 45 kg to 120 kg (inclusive) at screening
  • Contraceptive use by men or women should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies.

Exclusion criteria

  • Primary diagnosis of a rheumatic disease besides SLE or an inflammatory joint or skin disease other than SLE that could confound the disease activity assessments
  • Active and severe lupus nephritis
  • Active severe or unstable neuropsychiatric SLE including but not limited to seizures, psychosis, acute confusional state, transverse myelitis, central nervous system vasculitis and optic neuritis
  • Known or suspected drug-induced lupus
  • History, clinical evidence, suspicion or significant risk, for thromboembolic events, as well as myocardial infarction, stroke, and/or antiphospholipid syndrome and any participants requiring antithrombotic treatment
  • History or current hypogammaglobulinemia
  • Serious systemic viral, bacterial or fungal infection
  • Participants with a history of invasive opportunistic infections, such as, but not limited to histoplasmosis, listeriosis, coccidioidomycosis, candidiasis, pneumocystis jirovecii, and aspergillosis, regardless of resolution
  • Evidence of active or untreated latent tuberculosis as documented by medical history (eg, chest Xrays) and examination, and tuberculosis testing
  • High dose of steroids, or a change in dose within 4 weeks prior to randomization
  • High dose of antimalarial, or a change in dose within 12 weeks prior to randomization
  • High dose of immunosuppressants or a change in dose within 12 weeks prior to randomization
  • Use of cyclophosphamide within 3 months prior to screening
  • Previous parenteral (IV), intramuscular (IM), or intra-articular steroid administration within 4 weeks prior to randomization
  • Participants likely to require multiple courses of oral corticosteroid (OCS) during the study for chronic diseases other than SLE
  • Administration of any live (attenuated) vaccine within 3 months prior to randomization (eg, varicella zoster vaccine, oral polio, rabies)
  • Administration of any non-live vaccine (eg, seasonal influenza, COVID-19) within 4 weeks prior to randomization

The above information is not intended to contain all considerations relevant to a patient's potential participation in a clinical trial.

Treatment and study plan

SAR441344 IV

Drug

Pharmaceutical form: solution Route of administration: Intravenous infusion

SAR441344 SC

Drug

Pharmaceutical form: solution Route of administration: subcutaneous injection

Placebo IV

Drug

Pharmaceutical form: solution Route of administration: Intravenous infusion

Placebo SC

Drug

Pharmaceutical form: solution Route of administration: subcutaneous injection

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage of participants who achieved a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Responder Index (SRI-4) response at Week 24.

    Time frame: At Week 24

    A composite endpoint, with SRI-4 response requiring a ≥ 4-point improvement (reduction) from baseline in Hybrid Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (hSELENA-SLEDAI), no new British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG-2004) A organ domain scores, or ≥ 2 new BILAG-2004 B organ domain scores compared with baseline, no worsening from baseline in lupus disease activity, and no permanent discontinuation of study drug or use of new or increased medication for SLE other than defined per protocol.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percentage of participants who achieved an SRI-4 response in prespecified biomarker (BM) subgroups at Week 24

    Time frame: At Week 24

  2. Percentage of participants who achieved a BILAG-based Composite Lupus Assessment (BICLA) response in prespecified BM subgroups at Week 24

    Time frame: At Week 24

  3. Percentage of participants who achieved a BICLA response at Week 24

    Time frame: At Week 24

  4. Percentage of participants whose prednisone dose was ≤ 7.5 mg at Week 16 and maintained through Week 24 in the subgroup with baseline prednisone ≥10 mg/day

    Time frame: Until Week 24

  5. Total cumulative corticosteroid dose over 24 weeks

    Time frame: Until Week 24

  6. Percentage of participants achieving an SRI-4 response at week 24 with sustained reduction of oral corticosteroids

    Time frame: At Week 24

  7. Percent change from baseline in percentage in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI)-A at Week 24 in the subgroup of participants with baseline CLASI-A score ≥8

    Time frame: At Week 24

  8. Percentage of participants with ≥50% improvement in CLASI-A at Week 24 in the subgroup of participants with baseline CLASI-A score ≥8

    Time frame: At Week 24

  9. Percentage of participants with ≥50% improvement in the number of tender and swollen joints at Week 24 (among participants with at least 4 joints affected at baseline)

    Time frame: At Week 24

  10. Incidence of treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs), serious AEs (SAEs), and AEs of special interest (AESIs) from Baseline to Week 36 End of Study (EoS)

    Time frame: Until Week 36

  11. Incidence of study investigational medicinal product permanent discontinuations and study withdrawals due to TEAEs from Baseline to Week 36 (EoS)

    Time frame: Until Week 36

  12. Participants with medically significant changes in vital signs, electrocardiogram (ECG), and/or laboratory evaluation

    Time frame: Until Week 36

  13. Measurement of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) (before administration at Week 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and after treatment discontinuation at Week 36)

    Time frame: Until Week 36

  14. SAR441344 concentrations over time

    Time frame: Until Week 36

  15. Pharmacokinetic parameters: maximum concentration (Cmax)

    Time frame: Until Week 36

  16. Pharmacokinetic parameters: time to Cmax (tmax)

    Time frame: Until Week 36

  17. Pharmacokinetic parameters: area under the curve over the dosing interval (AUC0-tau)

    Time frame: Until Week 36

  18. Pharmacokinetic parameters: terminal half-life (t1/2z).

    Time frame: Until Week 36

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Sanofi

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy and Safety of SAR441344 in the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase 2, Proof of Concept Study

Acronym: APATURA

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Sep 10, 2021
Registry last updated
Mar 27, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.