Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s (AUPH) Voclosporin, a novel therapy in development for patients with Lupus Nephritis, awaits the FDA decision on January 22, 2021.Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In patients with lupus nephritis, renal damage results in proteinuria and/or hematuria and a decrease in renal function as evidenced by reduced eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) and increased serum creatinine levels.Voclosporin is a calcineurin inhibitor. By inhibiting calcineurin, Voclosporin blocks IL-2 expression and T-cell mediated immune responses and stabilizes the podocyte in the kidney. Podocytes are highly specialized cells of the kidney glomerulus that play an important role in glomerular function.In a pivotal trial, Voclosporin achieved statistically superior Renal Response rate and comparable safety profile versus standard of care.Voclosporin, if approved, will compete with GlaxoSmithKline plc’s (GSK) BENLYSTA – the first medicine for adult patients with active lupus nephritis that was approved in the U.S. as recently as December 17, 2020.Aurinia has roped in Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for the development and commercialization of oral Voclosporin for the treatment of Lupus Nephritis in the European Union, Japan, as well as the United Kingdom, Russia, Switzerland, Norway, Belarus, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Ukraine.AUPH closed Monday’s (Dec.28, 2020) trading at $13.66, down 3.67%.