The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of belimumab in adult patients with active lupus nephritis.
Study participants receive standard therapy (induction and maintenance) for lupus nephritis in addition to receiving either placebo (no active medicine) or belimumab. Induction therapy starts before the first dose of study drug (belimumab or placebo). Maintenance therapy begins after completion of induction therapy and continues for the remainder of the study. Participants receive study drug throughout the entire study, during both induction and maintenance periods. The controlled period of the study is 104 weeks. The random assignment in this study is "1 to 1" which means you have an equal chance of receiving treatment with belimumab or placebo. Participants who successfully complete the 104-week study may enter into a 6-month open-label extension. All participants in the open-label extension receive belimumab.
Placebo plus standard therapy
Belimumab 10 mg/kg plus standard therapy
The standard therapies allowed in this study are: \- High-dose steroids (for example, methylprednisolone) plus cyclophosphamide for induction therapy followed by azathioprine for maintenance therapy OR \- High-dose steroids plus mycophenolate for induction therapy followed by mycophenolate for maintenance therapy
Ciudad Autonoma Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán Province, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ciudad Autonoma Buenos Aires, Argentina
Córdoba, Argentina
Mendoza, Argentina