ChemoCentryx, a biopharmaceutical company targeting the chemokine and chemoattractant systems, announced that FDA approved Tavenos (avacopan), an orally-administered selective complement 5a receptor inhibitor, on Oct. 8th, 2021. Avacopan was approved as an adjunctive treatment for adults with severe active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis, also known as ANCA-associated vasculitis, in combination with standard therapy.
ANCA-associated vasculitis is a systemic autoimmune disease where over-activation of the complement system further activates neutrophils, which leads to inflammation and destruction of small blood vessels. This results in organ damage and failure, often in the kidneys, and is usually fatal if untreated. Avocapan is intended for the two main forms of ANCA-associated vasculitis—granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis.
