CClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07438496GARDENIA-SLEUpdated Sep 25, 2026

A Study of Nipocalimab in Adults With Moderate to Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

A Phase 3 interventional study of Nipocalimab and Placebo in Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, sponsored by Janssen Research & Development, LLC. Recruiting at 260 sites in 32 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-25.

Sponsored by Janssen Research & Development, LLC · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
600
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well nipocalimab works as compared to placebo in participants with moderate to severe Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, a long-term disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues, causing swelling and redness in various organs).

02

Conditions studied

  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:-

  • Medically stable on the basis of physical examination, medical history, vital signs and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at screening
  • Clinical diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for more than or equal to (>=) 24 weeks prior to screening and meeting european league against rheumatism/american college of rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria
  • Must have a systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score >= 6 and a clinical SLEDAI-2K >= 4 at screening, AND a clinical SLEDAI-2K score >= 4 points at Week 0. For eligibility, points attributed to "lupus headache," "alopecia," and "organic brain syndrome" are excluded
  • Participants of childbearing potential must have a negative serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) test at screening and a negative urine (β- hCG) test at Week 0 prior to randomization
  • Has at least 1 BILAG-2004 A score or 2 BILAG-2004 B scores observed at screening

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of severe, progressive and/or uncontrolled hepatic, gastrointestinal, renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, psychiatric, neurological or musculoskeletal disorder, hypertension, and/or any other medical or uncontrolled autoimmune disorder (s) or clinically significant abnormalities in screening laboratory
  • Any unstable or progressive manifestation of SLE that is likely to warrant escalation in therapy beyond permitted background medications
  • Confirmed or suspected clinical immunodeficiency syndrome not related to treatment of SLE or has a family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency unless confirmed absent in the participant
  • Has shown a previous severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction, such as anaphylaxis, to therapeutic proteins
  • Suspected or known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to nipocalimab or its excipients, or excipients used in the placebo formulation
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
600 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Nipocalimab

    Participants will receive nipocalimab up to Week 52 in the double blind treatment period along with standard of care treatments. At Week 52, eligible participants from both studies will have the option to enter an open-label long-term extension (OLE) period, where they will continue to receive nipocalimab until Week 156 or until the study intervention is discontinued.

    Drug: Nipocalimab · Drug: Standard of care treatment

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    Participants will receive placebo up to Week 52 in the double blind treatment period along with standard of care treatment. At Week 52, eligible participants from both studies will have the option to enter an OLE period, where they will continue to receive nipocalimab until Week 156 or until the study intervention is discontinued.

    Drug: Nipocalimab · Drug: Placebo · Drug: Standard of care treatment

Interventions

  • DrugNipocalimab

    Nipocalimab will be administered.

  • DrugPlacebo

    Placebo will be administered.

  • DrugStandard of care treatment

    Protocol-defined topical and systemic standard of care background treatments.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Participants Achieving Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index (SRI)-4 Composite Response at Week 52

    SLE SRI-4 composite response is a composite response of at least a 4 point reduction in SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), no British Isles Lupus Assessment Group-2004 (BILAG-2004) worsening, defined as no new A or less than or equal to \<= 1 new B items compared to baseline, no worsening in Physician's Global Assessment (PGA \[greater than {\>} 10 percent {%} increase from baseline\]).

    Time frame: Week 52

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Participants Achieving SRI-4 Composite Response at Week 52 with High Baseline IFN Gene Signature (Interferon [IFN] high)

    SLE SRI-4 composite response is a composite response of at least a 4 point reduction in SLEDAI-2K, no BILAG-2004 worsening, defined as no new A or \<= 1 new B items compared to baseline, no worsening in PGA (\> 10% increase from baseline). IFN high is defined as elevated peripheral type 1 IFN gene signature at baseline.

    Time frame: Week 52

  2. Percentage of Participants Achieving SRI-4 Composite Response at Week 52 with Sustained Reduction in Oral Glucocorticoid (GC) Dose

    SLE SRI-4 composite response is a composite response of at least a 4 point reduction in SLEDAI-2K, no BILAG-2004 worsening, defined as no new A or \<= 1 new B items compared to baseline, no worsening in PGA (\> 10% increase from baseline). Sustained reduction in oral GC dose at Week 52 is defined as achieving \<= 5 mg/day oral prednisone (or equivalent) AND no increase of that dose from Week 32 through Week 52.

    Time frame: Week 52

  3. Percentage of Participants Who Achieve Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) At Week 52

    LLDAS is defined as follows: SLEDAI-2K \<= 4, with no activity in major organ systems (renal, central nervous system, cardiopulmonary, vasculitis, fever) and no hemolytic anemia or gastrointestinal activity measured as maintaining a D (no disease activity but suggests the system had previously been affected) or E (no current or previous disease activity) score in BILAG gastrointestinal body system, no new lupus disease activity compared with the previous assessment measured as no new or worsening individual BILAG parameters, physician's global assessment of disease activity \<= 1 on a 3-point visual analog scale from no disease activity to severe disease activity, a current prednisolone (or equivalent) dose \<= 7.5 milligram (mg) daily and well-tolerated standard maintenance doses of immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents.

    Time frame: Week 52

  4. Percentage of Participants with < 2 Active Joints at Week 52 in Participants with >= 2 Active Joints at Baseline

    Percentage of participants with \< 2 active joints at Week 52 in participants with \>= 2 active joints at baseline will be reported.

    Time frame: Week 52

  5. Change From Baseline in Lupus Symptoms Joint Pain Score at Week 52

    Lupus symptoms joint pain score at Week 52 will be reported.

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 52

  6. Percentage of Participants Achieving Sustained Reduction in Oral GC Dose at Week 52 in Participants Treated with Oral GC >5 mg/Day Prednisone (or equivalent) at Baseline

    Percentage of participants achieving sustained reduction in oral GC dose at Week 52 in participants treated with oral GC \>5 mg/Day prednisone (or equivalent) at baseline will be reported.

    Time frame: Week 52

  7. Change from Baseline in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue (FACIT) Fatigue Score at Week 52

    FACIT-Fatigue version 4.0 is a 13-item questionnaire that assesses participant-reported fatigue and its impact upon daily activities and function over the past 7 days. Participants will be asked to answer each question using a 5-point Likert scale (0=Not at all; 1=A little bit; 2=Somewhat; 3=Quite a bit; and 4=Very much). FACIT-Fatigue has a total score range from 0 to 52, with 0 being the worst possible score and 52 the best.

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 52

  8. Percentage of Participants With BILAG Flare Free Status Through Week 52

    A participant has a flare-free status if no flare has been reported during the 52-week treatment period. A flare was defined as either 1 or more new BILAG-2004 A (severe disease activity) or 2 or more new BILAG-2004 B (moderate disease activity) items compared to the previous visit.

    Time frame: Up to Week 52

  9. Percentage of Participants Achieving SRI-4 Composite Response at Week 52 with High Baseline Autoantibodies (Autoantibody High)

    SLE SRI-4 composite response is a composite response of at least a 4 point reduction in SLEDAI-2K, no BILAG-2004 worsening, defined as no new A or \<= 1 new B items compared to baseline, no worsening in PGA (\> 10% increase from baseline). Autoantibody high participants is defined as participants with high autoantibody at baseline.

    Time frame: Week 52

06

Study locations

259 of 260 sites recruiting
  • David S Hallegua MD A Professional Corporation
    Beverly Hills, California 90211, United States
    Recruiting
  • Providence Medical Foundation
    Fullerton, California 92835, United States
    Recruiting
  • Southland Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center Inc dba Southland Arthritis
    Hemet, California 92543, United States
    Recruiting
  • Advanced Medical Research
    La Palma, California 90623, United States
    Recruiting
  • Medvin Clinical Research San Leandro
    San Leandro, California 94578, United States
    Recruiting
  • Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
    Torrance, California 90502, United States
    Recruiting
  • Solace Clinical Research California
    Tustin, California 92780, United States
    Recruiting
  • Inland Rheumatology Clinical Trials Inc.
    Upland, California 91786, United States
    Recruiting
  • Denver Arthritis Clinic
    Denver, Colorado 80230, United States
    Recruiting
  • Arthritis & Rheumatic Disease Specialties
    Aventura, Florida 33180, United States
    Recruiting
  • Clinical Research of West Florida 1
    Clearwater, Florida 33765, United States
    Recruiting
  • Avanti Clinical Research Corp
    Hialeah, Florida 33013, United States
    Recruiting
  • LeJenue Research Associates PLLC
    Miami, Florida 33126, United States
    Recruiting
  • Pro-Care Research Center, Corp.
    Miami Gardens, Florida 33014, United States
    Recruiting
  • Floridian Clinical Research LLC
    Miami Lakes, Florida 33016, United States
    Recruiting
  • Integral Rheumatology And Immunology Specialists
    Plantation, Florida 33324, United States
    Recruiting
  • Clinical Research of West Florida
    Tampa, Florida 33606, United States
    Recruiting
  • Atlanta Research Center for Rheumatology
    Marietta, Georgia 30060, United States
    Recruiting
  • Willow Rheumatology and Wellness PLLC
    Willowbrook, Illinois 60527, United States
    Recruiting
  • Accurate Clinical Research, Inc.
    Lake Charles, Louisiana 70605, United States
    Recruiting
  • Revive Research Institute
    Sterling Heights, Michigan 48313, United States
    Recruiting
  • Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
    Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
    Recruiting
  • Arthritis Rheumatic And Back Disease Associates
    Voorhees Township, New Jersey 08043, United States
    Recruiting
  • Joint and Muscle Research Institute
    Charlotte, North Carolina 28204, United States
    Recruiting
  • DJL Clinical Research, PLLC
    Charlotte, North Carolina 28211, United States
    Recruiting
  • Cross Creek Medical Clinic
    Fayetteville, North Carolina 28304 4422, United States
    Recruiting
  • Paramount Medical Research & Consulting
    Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130, United States
    Recruiting
  • Clinical Research Philadelphia
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19114, United States
    Recruiting
  • West Tennessee Research Institute
    Jackson, Tennessee 38305, United States
    Recruiting
  • Amarillo Medical Specialists Rheumatology
    Amarillo, Texas 79121, United States
    Recruiting
  • Amarillo Center for Clinical Research
    Amarillo, Texas 79124, United States
    Recruiting
  • Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Institute
    Frisco, Texas 75035, United States
    Recruiting
  • R and H Clinical Research
    Katy, Texas 77449, United States
    Recruiting
  • Southwest Rheumatology Research LLC
    Mesquite, Texas 75150, United States
    Recruiting
  • Texas Rheumatology Research Institute LLC
    Plano, Texas 75024, United States
    Recruiting
  • Epic Medical Research 1
    Red Oak, Texas 75154, United States
    Recruiting
  • Fort Bend Rheumatology Associates PLLC
    Sugar Land, Texas 77479, United States
    Recruiting
  • Carilion Clinic Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
    Roanoke, Virginia 24011, United States
    Recruiting
  • ARCIS Salud SRL Aprillus asistencia e investigacion
    Buenos Aires, C1406AGA, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Centro Privado de Medicina Familiar
    Buenos Aires, C1417EYG, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Central Militar Cirujano Mayor Dr Cosme Argerich
    CABA, C1426BOS, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Centro de Investigacion en Enfermedades Reumaticas CIER
    Ciudad de Buenos Aires, C1055, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Arsema
    Ciudad de Buenos Aires, C1427, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Global Psy Asociacion Civil
    La Plata, B1904, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Cer Instituto Medico
    Quilmes, B1878DVB, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Instituto de Investigaciones Clinicas Quilmes
    Quilmes, B1878GEG, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Sanatorio de la Mujer
    Rosario, 2000, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • MR Medicina Reumatologica
    San Fernando, B1646GHP, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Centro de Investigaciones Medicas Tucuman
    San Miguel de Tucumán, T4000AXL, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • BOX HILL
    Box Hill, 3128, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Footscray Hospital, Western Health
    Footscray, 3011, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Ipswich Hospital
    Ipswich, 4305, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Hospital das Clinicas - UFG
    Goiânia, 74605 020, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • CMIP - Centro Mineiro de Pesquisa Ltda
    Juiz de Fora, 36010 570, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Moinhos de Vento
    Porto Alegre, 90035-001, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Hospital De Clinicas De Porto Alegre
    Porto Alegre, 90035-903, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • LMK Servicos Medicos S S
    Porto Alegre, 90480 000, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Uniao Brasileira de Educacao e Assistencia Hospital Sao Lucas da PUCRS
    Porto Alegre, 90610 000, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto
    Ribeirão Preto, 14051140, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • SER - Servicos Especializados em Reumatologia da Bahia
    Salvador, 40150 150, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • IDOR - Regional Bahia
    Salvador, 41253-190, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Funfarme Sjrp
    São José do Rio Preto, 15090-000, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Samaritano de Sao Paulo
    São Paulo, 01243 020, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Das Clinicas Da Faculdade De Medicina Da USP
    São Paulo, 05403 900, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Cepes - Fmabc
    São Paulo, 09060-870, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • CEDOES Centro de Pesquisa Clinica e Diagnostico do Espirito Santo Ltda
    Vitória, 29055 450, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • MC Medtech Services Ltd
    Haskovo, 6304, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • Multiprofile Hosptal for Active Treatment Eurohospital Plovdiv
    Plovdiv, 4004, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • Diagnostic consulting center 1 Ruse EOOD
    Rousse, 7002, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • Diagnostic-Consultative Center (DCC) Aleksandrovska
    Sofia, 1431, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • Medical Center Hera EOOD
    Sofia, 1510, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • Military Medical Academy Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sofia
    Sofia, 1606, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • UMHAT 'Sveti Ivan Rilsky'
    Sofia, 1612, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • University Multi Profile Hospital for Active Treatment UMHAT St. Marina
    Varna, 9010, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • Peking University People's Hospital
    Beijing, 100044, China
    Recruiting
  • Xiangya Hospital Central South University
    Changsha, 410008, China
    Recruiting
  • West China School of Medicine/West China Hospital, Sichuan University
    Cheng Du Shi, 610041, China
    Recruiting
  • Dongguan People s Hospital
    Dongguan, 523109, China
    Recruiting
  • The First Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat-Sen University
    Guangzhou, 510080, China
    Recruiting
  • The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University College of Medicine
    Hangzhou, 311608, China
    Recruiting
  • Anhui Provincial Hospital
    Hefei, 230061, China
    Recruiting
  • Jinhua municipal central hospital
    Jinhua, 321013, China
    Recruiting
  • Shandong Jining No.1 People's Hospital
    Jining, 272073, China
    Recruiting
  • Linfen Central Hospital
    Linfen, 041000, China
    Recruiting
  • The first affiliated hospital of Henan University of science and technology
    Luoyang, 471003, China
    Recruiting
  • The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University
    Nanchang, 330008, China
    Recruiting
  • Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital
    Nanjing, 210009, China
    Recruiting
  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
    Nanning, 530021, China
    Recruiting
  • Ningbo medical center lihuili hospital
    Ningbo, 315041, China
    Recruiting
  • Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine
    Shanghai, 200001, China
    Recruiting
  • Shenshan Medical Center Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat Sen University
    Shanwei, 516601, China
    Recruiting
  • Second Affiliated Hospital, SooChow University
    Suzhou, 215004, China
    Recruiting
  • Shanxi Bethune Hospital
    Taiyuan, 030032, China
    Recruiting
  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University
    Wenzhou, 325000, China
    Recruiting
  • Xinxiang Central Hospital
    Xinxiang, 453099, China
    Recruiting
  • Fakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny v Brn
    Brno, 602 00, Czechia
    Recruiting
  • Revimex Pro s r o
    Karvina Frystat, 733 01, Czechia
    Recruiting
  • Revmatologicky ustav
    Prague, 128 50, Czechia
    Recruiting
  • Rigshospitalet
    Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
    Recruiting
  • Zealand University Hospital
    Køge, 4600, Denmark
    Recruiting

Showing the first 100 of 260 sites across 32 countries.

07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — The data sharing policy of Johnson \& Johnson Innovative Medicine is available at www.innovativemedicine.jnj.com/our-innovation/clinical-trials/transparency. As noted on this site, requests for access to the study data can be submitted through Yale Open Data Access (YODA) Project site at yoda.yale.edu

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07438496
Lead sponsor
Janssen Research & Development, LLC
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 27, 2026
Start date
Mar 5, 2026
Primary completion
Dec 6, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Nov 7, 2031 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 25, 2026

Study contacts

Study Contact
Contact
Participate-In-This-Study1@its.jnj.com
844-434-4210
Janssen Research & Development, LLC Clinical Trial
study director · Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
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