AstraZeneca Announces FDA Approval of Saphnelo (anifrolumab-fnia) for Moderate to Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

On August 2, AstraZeneca announced that Saphnelo (anifrolumab-fnia) has been approved in the United States for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are receiving standard therapy. The press release noted that this marks the first regulatory approval of a type I interferon (type I IFN) receptor antagonist. Type I IFN plays a central role in the pathophysiology of lupus, and increased type I IFN signaling is associated with increased disease activity and severity.