The ACCESS Trial

The ACCESS trial is a clinical research study aiming to find out whether adding an experimental medicine called "abatacept" (pronounced ‘AB-uh-TA-sept’) to a standard lupus nephritis treatment regimen make it safer and more effective.

What is Abatacept?
Unlike immunosuppressive drugs, abatacept acts only on certain specific cells in the immune system rather than all the immune cells. Because it affects the immune system in a more specific way, researchers hope it will be a more effective treatment, specifically when it is combined with more traditional lupus medications.

Although abatacept is an experimental treatment for lupus nephritis, it is not a new drug. It has been approved by the FDA to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

How does the trial work?
All participants in the ACCESS trial will receive:

• standard pulse cyclophosphamide treatment regimen
• either the study drug abatacept or an inactive placebo
• frequent study visits to monitor your condition
• laboratory tests to assess your health and the state of your immune system
• direct access to study physicians and nurses to answer your questions and address your concerns

You will be asked to attend several study visits in the first year and one visit two years after you enroll. All study-related care and treatments are provided at no cost to participants. Participants may receive compensation for expenses they incur during the trial.

Study doctors and staff will be happy to answer any additional questions you might have about the ACCESS trial. They can provide more information on the potential risks and benefits of participating.

Next > Find out who is eligible to participate