A Clinical Trial With KJ103 in Anti-GBM Disease

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease is a severe, rare autoimmune disorder with an internationally reported incidence of 0.5-1/1 million. It is defined as a vasculitis in which anti-GBM antibodies affect glomerular capillaries, pulmonary capillaries or both. Pulmonary involvement leads to pulmonary haemorrhage and renal involvement can lead to glomerulonephritis with necrosis and crescents. Anti-GBM disease is a severe autoimmune disorder characterised by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and positive anti-GBM antibodies. Antibodies can be found in the circulation and deposited in the lungs and kidneys, mediating renal injury through complement activation and recruitment of inflammatory cells. If left untreated, the vast majority of patients will progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or die from pulmonary haemorrhage. Early detection and measures to reduce anti-GBM antibody levels have the potential to alter prognosis and protect renal function. Unfortunately, many patients with anti-GBM disease are diagnosed late and renal function is not restored even with an aggressive treatment regimen of plasma exchange (PE) combined with immunosuppression. Current KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Prognosis Organisation) guidelines state that the clinical treatment of anti-GBM disease is a combination of glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide and PE. Despite treatment, patients continue to produce anti-GBM antibodies in their bodies. Rebound anti-GBM antibodies are usually indicative of adverse renal outcomes and PE must be initiated to remove the rebound antibodies.PE is an effective means of removing circulating anti-GBM antibodies, but only removes about 1/3 of the percentage per treatment, so multiple treatments are required to achieve complete removal. This is a single-arm Phase II study designed to evaluate the preliminary efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and immunogenicity of KJ103 in patients with anti-GBM disease. The trial is expected to enrol 9 to 12 subjects who will receive KJ103 treatment.