Aurinia Launches Campaign Aimed at Educating and Motivating People with Lupus Nephritis to Prioritize Their Kidney Health and Take Action
VICTORIA, British Columbia–Oct. 25, 2022 – Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUPH), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering therapeutics that change the trajectory of autoimmune disease, affirmed its commitment to the lupus nephritis community through the launch of a new campaign to encourage people living with lupus nephritis to prioritize the management of their kidney health.
Lupus nephritis is a serious manifestation of lupus that can cause irreversible kidney damage and kidney failure. One in two people living with lupus will develop lupus nephritis over time. Even more concerning, people with lupus nephritis often do not notice the signs and as a result, new or worsening symptoms can go unchecked. For people living with lupus nephritis, routine urine testing is recommended at least every three months to ensure that kidney health is closely monitored.
Aurinia’s new campaign depicts highly relatable—although sometimes uncomfortable—situations involved in routine monitoring of lupus nephritis and highlights the importance of protecting the kidneys. By putting these uncomfortable situations into perspective of the possible consequences, Aurinia hopes the campaign will motivate individuals living with lupus nephritis to prioritize their kidney health and become empowered to act.
The campaign portrays real life experiences associated with routine monitoring and does not shy away from the realities of living with lupus nephritis. For example, the campaign uses the ‘uncomfortable’ headline: “Peeing in a cup sucks. But kidney failure is way worse.” The campaign will be delivered across a variety of channels including social media and a website (www.getuncomfortable.com) where people can find doctors in their area and schedule appointments online. This tool will make it easier for people with lupus nephritis to work with a healthcare provider to closely monitor their kidney health and prevent irreversible kidney damage.
“While lupus nephritis can be a silent disease, it is serious. One in three people living with lupus nephritis will experience kidney failure, which can lead to dialysis or even a kidney transplant,” said Bianca Jay, Senior Director of Marketing at Aurinia. “Routine testing is critical to managing kidney health, but from both our research and in speaking directly with patients and health care providers we have learned that many people regularly cancel or miss their doctor appointments. Our campaign is designed to empower patients to prioritize their kidney health by embracing the uncomfortable.”
To connect with and bring the Get Uncomfortable message directly to lupus nephritis patient communities, Aurinia is joining forces with advocacy organizations committed to providing resources to people with lupus nephritis by participating in awareness walks and education programs throughout the nation this fall.
“Lupus nephritis can have a devastating impact on people living with the disease, particularly if it goes unmanaged,” said Stevan W. Gibson, President and CEO, Lupus Foundation of America. “We are excited to collaborate with Aurinia on the Get Uncomfortable campaign at our Walk to End Lupus Now and Lupus & You education events because connecting people with lupus to healthcare providers and encouraging regular testing is critical to driving better outcomes.”
About Lupus Nephritis
Lupus nephritis (LN) is a serious manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic and complex autoimmune disease. About 200,000-300,000 people live with SLE in the U.S. and about one-third of these people are diagnosed with lupus nephritis at the time of their SLE diagnosis. About 50% of all people with SLE may develop lupus nephritis. If poorly controlled, LN can lead to permanent and irreversible tissue damage within the kidney. Black and Asian individuals with SLE are four times more likely to develop LN and individuals of Hispanic ancestry are approximately twice as likely to develop the disease when compared with Caucasian individuals. Black and Hispanic individuals with SLE also tend to develop LN earlier and have poorer outcomes when compared to Caucasian individuals.
About Aurinia
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on delivering therapies to treat targeted patient populations that are impacted by serious diseases with a high unmet medical need. In January 2021, the Company introduced LUPKYNIS® (voclosporin), the first FDA-approved oral therapy dedicated for the treatment of adult patients with active lupus nephritis. The Company’s head office is in Victoria, British Columbia, its U.S. commercial office is in Rockville, Maryland. The Company focuses its development efforts globally.
Investors
DeDe Sheel
dsheel@auriniapharma.com
Media
aurinia@healthandcommerce.com
Released October 25, 2022
