A Phase 3 interventional study of Litifilimab and Litifilimab-matching placebo in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), sponsored by Biogen. Enrolling by invitation at 214 sites in 28 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-05.
Sponsored by Biogen · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
In this study, researchers will learn more about a study drug called litifilimab (BIIB059) in participants with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study will focus on adults who have active disease and are already taking standard of care medications. These may include antimalarials, steroids, and immunosuppressants. This is an extension study of 230LE303 and 230LE304 (TOPAZ-1 and TOPAZ-2). It will include participants who completed the treatment periods of either one of those parent studies.
The main goal of the study is to learn more about the long-term safety of litifilimab in adults. The main question researchers want to answer is:
- How many participants have adverse events and serious adverse events during the study? Adverse events are health problems that may or may not be caused by the study drug.
Researchers will also learn about:
The study will be done as follows:
Optional Substudy:
This is an extension study for all participants who completed study 230LE303 (NCT04895241) and 230LE304 (NCT04961567) (parent phase 3 studies) through Week 52 and did not discontinue litifilimab or placebo. Eligible participants from parent phase 3 studies will be followed for up to 284 weeks.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term safety and tolerability of litifilimab in participants with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
The secondary objectives of this study are to evaluate the long-term effect of litifilimab on disease activity in participants with SLE, to evaluate the long-term effect of litifilimab in participants with SLE in maintaining low disease activity, to evaluate the effect of litifilimab in participants with active SLE in preventing irreversible organ damage, to assess long-term use of oral corticosteroid (OCS) with participants receiving litifilimab treatment, to assess the impact of litifilimab on participant-reported Health-Related Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (HRQoL), symptoms, and impacts of SLE, to evaluate long-term effect of litifilimab on laboratory parameters, and to evaluate immunogenicity of litifilimab.
A phase-3, randomized, dose-blind, substudy is added in this extension study for all participants who have been enrolled in the 230LE306 Phase 3 LTE study for a minimum of 4 months and have at least four remaining visits in the Phase 3 LTE study.
The primary objective of this substudy is to evaluate the safety of injector device used for administering litifilimab in participants with active SLE.
The secondary objective of this substudy is to evaluate the tolerability of injector device used for administering litifilimab in participants with active SLE.
1,207 studies on the registry are indexed under Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; 405 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 864 is above the median of 52 across 876 interventional studies indexed under Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic.
Browse Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic studies →Biogen is the lead sponsor of 511 studies on the registry; 24 are open to participants now.
Of its 100 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 50 (50%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Key Inclusion Criteria:
Key Exclusion Criteria:
NOTE: Other inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants who are receiving background nonbiologic lupus standard of care (SOC) therapy and received litifilimab low dose, subcutaneously (SC), every 4 weeks (Q4W) during the parent Phase 3 studies (i.e. studies 230LE303 \[NCT04895241\] or 230LE304 \[NCT04961567\]) will continue to receive litifilimab low dose, SC, Q4W from Day 1 to 260 weeks with an additional dose of litifilimab-matching placebo at Week 2. Participants who are receiving background nonbiologic lupus SOC therapy and received litifilimab-matching placebo in the parent Phase 3 studies (i.e. studies 230LE303 \[NCT04895241\] or 230LE304 \[NCT04961567\]) will be randomized to receive litifilimab low dose, SC, Q4W from Day 1 to 260 weeks with an additional dose at Week 2.
Drug: Litifilimab · Drug: Litifilimab-matching placebo
Participants who are receiving background nonbiologic lupus SOC therapy and received litifilimab high dose, SC, Q4W during the parent Phase 3 studies (i.e. studies 230LE303 \[NCT04895241\] or 230LE304 \[NCT04961567\]) will continue to receive litifilimab high dose, SC, Q4W from Day 1 to 260 weeks with an additional dose of litifilimab-matching placebo at Week 2. Participants who are receiving background nonbiologic lupus SOC therapy and received litifilimab-matching placebo in the parent Phase 3 studies (i.e. studies 230LE303 \[NCT04895241\] or 230LE304 \[NCT04961567\]) will be randomized to receive litifilimab high dose, SC, Q4W from Day 1 to 260 weeks with an additional dose at Week 2.
Drug: Litifilimab · Drug: Litifilimab-matching placebo
Administered as specified in the treatment arm.
Also known as: BIIB059
Administered as specified in the treatment arm.
Also known as: BIIB059
Number of Participants with Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs)
An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant or clinical investigation participant administered a pharmaceutical product and that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal (investigational) product, whether or not related to the medicinal (investigational) product. A TEAE is an AE that started or worsened in severity after the first dose of study treatment through 28 days after the last dose of study treatment or end of study (EOS) date, whichever comes earlier.
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Number of Participants with Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
An SAE is any untoward medical occurrence that at any dose results in death, in the view of the Investigator, places the participant at immediate risk of death (a life threatening event), requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, results in a congenital anomaly/birth defect, and is a medically important event.
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Percentage of Participants who Achieved an Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Responder Index (SRI)-4 Response
SRI-4 is a composite endpoint defined as the following: * A reduction from baseline of ≥4 points in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) score. * No new organ system affected, as defined by no new British Isles Lupus Activity Group-2004 (BILAG-2004 grade A) and no more than 1 new BILAG 2004 grade B versus previous visit. * No worsening from baseline in lupus disease activity as defined by \<0.3-point increase on 3-point Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) visual analog scale (VAS). * No violation of protocol-specified medication rules
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Percentage of Participants With at Least 4 Joints (Both Swollen and Tender) at Baseline who Achieved a Joint-50 Response
Joint-50 response is a 50% reduction in total active joint count from baseline. An active joint is defined as a joint with pain and signs of inflammation (e.g., tenderness, swelling or effusion). A 28-joint assessment will be performed to determine the active joint count, which is defined as the sum of tender and swollen joint counts.
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Percentage of Participants With a Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index - Activity (CLASI-A) Score ≥10 at Baseline who Achieved a CLASI-50, CLASI-70, and CLASI-90 Response
CLASI score is used to evaluate lupus skin manifestations. The activity scale (CLASI-A) includes measurements of erythema, scale and hypertrophy, and mucous membrane disease. Each part of the body is listed separately, from the scalp to the feet, in addition to sections focusing on mucous membrane involvement and alopecia. Points are given for the presence of erythema, scale, mucous membrane lesions, recent hair loss, and inflammatory alopecia. Scores for each area are assigned based on the most severe lesion within the area of interest. CLASI-A scores of 0 to 9, 10 to 20, and 21 to 70 represent disease severity of mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. CLASI-50, CLASI-70, and CLASI-90 responders are defined as ≥ 50%, ≥ 70%, and ≥ 90% improvement in CLASI-A score from baseline at the specified timepoint.
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Percentage of Participants who Achieved a British Isles Lupus Assessment Group based Composite Lupus Assessment (BICLA) Response
BICLA is a composite endpoint defined as the following: * BILAG-2004 improvement, defined as all of BILAG-2004 Grade A at baseline improved to B, C, or D and all of BILAG-2004 Grade B at baseline improved to C or D. * No BILAG-2004 worsening in other BILAG-2004 organ systems such that there are no new BILAG-2004 Grade A or greater than 1 new BILAG-2004 Grade B. * No worsening in the SLEDAI-2K total score compared to baseline. * No worsening from baseline in lupus disease activity as defined by \<0.3-point increase on 3-point PGA VAS. * No violation of protocol-specified medication rules.
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Annualized Severe Safety of Estrogens in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index Flare Index (SFI) Flare Rate
A severe flare is defined as any of the following: * Change in SLEDAI instrument score to \>12 * New or worse: central nervous system SLE; vasculitis; nephritis; myositis; platelets \<60,000/mL, or hemolytic anemia with hemoglobin \<7 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or decrease in hemoglobin \>3 g/dL and requiring: doubling prednisone dose, increase to \>0.5 milligrams per kilograms per day (mg/kg/day) or hospitalization * Increase in prednisone dose to \>0.5 mg/kg/day * New requirement for cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, or mycophenolate for SLE activity * Hospitalization for SLE activity * Increase in PGA score to \>2.5
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Percentage of Time Spent in Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS)
LLDAS is a composite endpoint defined as the following: i. SLEDAI-2K score ≤ 4, with no activity in a major organ system (renal, central nervous system, cardiopulmonary, vasculitis, fever); and ii. No new features of lupus disease activity compared with the previous assessment; and iii. SELENA-SLEDAI PGA ≤ 1; and iv. Current prednisone (or equivalent) dose ≤ 7.5 mg/day; and v. Standard maintenance doses of immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents. "No new features" is defined as any new SLEDAI-2K component that was not present at the previous assessment. The SELENA-SLEDAI PGA Scale ranges from 0-3, where 0 is no disease activity and 3 is maximum disease activity. "Standard maintenance doses" include drugs limited to those allowed per protocol.
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Percentage of Participants With Sustained LLDAS
LLDAS is a composite endpoint defined as the following: i. SLEDAI-2K score ≤ 4, with no activity in a major organ system (renal, central nervous system, cardiopulmonary, vasculitis, fever); and ii. No new features of lupus disease activity compared with the previous assessment; and iii. SELENA-SLEDAI PGA ≤ 1; and iv. Current prednisone (or equivalent) dose ≤ 7.5 mg/day; and v. Standard maintenance doses of immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents. "No new features" is defined as any new SLEDAI-2K component that was not present at the previous assessment. The SELENA-SLEDAI PGA Scale ranges from 0-3, where 0 is no disease activity and 3 is maximum disease activity. "Standard maintenance doses" include drugs limited to those allowed per protocol.
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Duration of Sustained LLDAS as Defined by the Number of Visits in LLDAS
LLDAS is a composite endpoint defined as the following: i. SLEDAI-2K score ≤ 4, with no activity in a major organ system (renal, central nervous system, cardiopulmonary, vasculitis, fever); and ii. No new features of lupus disease activity compared with the previous assessment; and iii. SELENA-SLEDAI PGA ≤ 1; and iv. Current prednisone (or equivalent) dose ≤ 7.5 mg/day; and v. Standard maintenance doses of immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents. "No new features" is defined as any new SLEDAI-2K component that was not present at the previous assessment. The SELENA-SLEDAI PGA Scale ranges from 0-3, where 0 is no disease activity and 3 is maximum disease activity. "Standard maintenance doses" include drugs limited to those allowed per protocol.
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Annual Change From Baseline Value From the Parent Phase 3 Studies in Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) Score
SDI score is used to assess the accumulated damage in participants with SLE. It assess 12 organ systems and records damage in participants with lupus, regardless of its cause. Damage could be due to previous disease activity, medication, or intercurrent illness (such as surgery or cancer). To distinguish between active inflammation and damage, an item must be present for at least 6 months. It is assumed that persistent inflammation (for at least 6 months) would result in tissue injury and hence damage. SDI is evaluated on a scale 0-47 with higher score indicating higher damage.
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Cumulative Exposure to OCS Over Time
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Percentage of Participants With OCS ≤7.5 mg
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Percentage of Participants With OCS ≤5 mg
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Change From Baseline in Lupus-Specific Health-Related Quality-Of-Life (LupusQoL) Score
The LupusQoL is a participant-reported, lupus-specific, HRQoL questionnaire consisting of 34 items grouped in 8 domains: physical health, pain, planning, intimate relationships, burden to others, emotional health, body image and fatigue. Participants indicate their responses on a 5-point Likert response format, where 4 = never, 3 = occasionally, 2 = a good bit of the time, 1 = most of the time, and 0 = all the time. A LupusQoL score for each domain will be reported on a 0 to 100 scale, with greater values indicating better HRQoL.
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Change From Baseline in Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) (Acute Version) Score
The SF-36 is a 36-item scale which assesses HRQoL in 8 domains: limitations in physical activities due to health problems, limitations in social activities due to physical or emotional problems, limitations in usual role activities due to physical health problems, bodily pain, general mental health (psychological distress and well-being), limitations in usual role activities due to emotional problems, vitality (energy and fatigue), general health perceptions. The SF-36 (Acute Version) form asks for participants to reply to questions (items) according to how they have felt over a specifically defined period of time. Items 1-4 primarily contribute to the physical component summary (PCS) score of the SF-36. Items 5-8 primarily contribute to the mental component summary (MCS) score of the SF-36 where higher scores indicate best health. Scores on each item are summed and averaged (range: 0=worse health to 100=best possible health).
Time frame: Up to Week 156
Change From Baseline in European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version (EQ-5D-3L)
The EQ-5D is a standardized generic measure of health status developed by the European Quality of Life Group. This study uses the EQ-5D-3L version of the instrument. This instrument consists of 2 sections. The first section comprises 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. All dimensions are measured on a 3-point scale, 1: No problems; 2: Some problems; 3: Extreme problems. The second section comprises the Visual Analogue Scale, which records the respondent's self-rated health on a vertical scale ranging from 0 to 100, lower scores indicate the worst possible health state.
Time frame: Up to Week 156
Change From Baseline in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue Score
The FACIT-Fatigue is a participant-administered HRQoL questionnaire that evaluates participant's fatigue in 5 broad categories: physical well-being, social/family well-being, emotional well-being, functional well-being and additional concerns. The level of fatigue is measured by questions assessed on a 5-point scale (0 = not at all; 1 = a little bit; 2 = somewhat; 3 = quite a bit; 4 = very much). The responses for each item are added to obtain a total score which ranges from 0 to 52, with a higher score indicating less fatigue.
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Change From Baseline in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Score
The PHQ-9 is a participant-administered HRQoL questionnaire to screen for the presence and severity of depression. The PHQ-9 is a participant-reported outcome (PRO) that is used to measure depression in adults. It contains 9 questions, with a 2 week recall period. The PHQ-9 yields an overall severity score that can range from 0 to 27 with the following severity scores: 0-4 = none; 5-9 = mild; 10-14 = moderate; 15-19 = moderate-to-severe; and 20-27 = severe.
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Change From Baseline in Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI):Lupus Score
WPAI questionnaire is a validated instrument to measure impairments in work and activities. The WPAI yields four types of scores: 1. Absenteeism (work time missed) 2. Presenteesism (impairment at work / reduced on-the-job effectiveness) 3. Work productivity loss (overall work impairment / absenteeism plus presenteeism) 4. Activity Impairment. Each score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating greater impairment and less productivity.
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Change from Baseline in Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) Score
The PtGA is participant-administered, single-item question evaluating the impact of health and illness, with responses ranging from very poor to very well on a 100 mm VAS. The participant will consider the previous week when addressing this question.
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Number of Participants with Clinically Relevant Abnormalities in Standard Laboratory Parameters
Standard laboratory parameters will include hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis, and coagulation.
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Number of Participants with Clinically Relevant Abnormalities in Electrocardiogram (ECG) Results
Time frame: Up to Week 260
Number of Participants with Antibodies to Litifilimab
Time frame: Up to Week 284
Showing the first 100 of 214 sites across 28 countries. Choose a country and city above to see the rest.
Plan to share: Yes — In accordance with Biogen's Clinical Trial Transparency and Data Sharing Policy on https://www.biogentrialtransparency.com/
Data sharing details ↗ · vivli.org
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Started Jun 2022 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for May 2032, 118 months after the start.
Of 53 phase 3 interventional studies under Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, half reached primary completion within 51 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 38 and three quarters within 84. This study's planned 118 months is above that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Studies of the drug tested here: Litifilimab
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic →