35 Recruiting Trials
Clinical Trials
for Lupus in California
35 clinical trials for Lupus are currently recruiting participants at study sites in California. Study-related care is provided at no cost.
35
Recruiting trials
86
Study sites
36
Cities
28
Industry-sponsored
12
Phase 2
9
Phase 3
Lupus clinical trials in California: what to expect
Lupus trials are mostly for systemic lupus that stays active despite standard treatment. They test biologic infusions and injections that target the immune signals behind lupus, new oral medicines, and treatments that reduce the need for steroids. Lupus nephritis, where the disease affects the kidneys, has its own trials with their own entry rules, and cell-based therapies are beginning to be tested in people whose lupus has not responded to anything else.
In California, recruiting lupus studies are concentrated in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, San Francisco and La Jolla, with sites in 32 other cities. 28 of the 35 are run by a drug or device company, which usually means a larger study with travel reimbursement; the rest are academic or hospital-led.
Who lupus trials usually look for
Trials require a confirmed diagnosis with positive antibody tests, active disease above a threshold on a standard activity score at screening, and a stable regimen of your current medicines (an antimalarial, an immunosuppressant, a steroid below a stated dose) for several weeks beforehand. Lupus nephritis trials need a recent kidney biopsy and a protein-in-urine level above a cut-off. Common exclusions are severe active lupus of the brain, a recent biologic, serious infection and pregnancy. Ages are usually 18 to 75.
What taking part involves
Screening includes blood and urine tests and a review of your records. Most trials then last a year with visits every four weeks for an infusion or injection, lab monitoring and a disease-activity exam, often with a plan to taper steroids. The study drug is usually compared with placebo, both added to your existing treatment, and flares are treated as needed. An open-label extension generally follows. All study care is free and visits are usually paid.
Questions worth asking the study team
Whether your current medicines stay unchanged; how the steroid taper works; the chance of placebo and whether an extension follows; what happens during a flare; and what the trial means for pregnancy planning.
Showing 20 of 35 recruiting Lupus trials in California
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Dapirolizumab Pegol in Study Participants With Moderately to Severely Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Recruiting
This trial is looking for people aged 16 and older who have moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are not getting enough improvement from their current medications. Participants will receive dapirolizumab pegol as an additional treatment along with their existing medications.
Phase 3 Extension Study to Evaluate Long-term Safety of Ianalumab in Participants With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SIRIUS-SLE Extension).
Recruiting
This trial is looking for people with systemic lupus erythematosus who have completed a previous study using ianalumab. Participants will be monitored for long-term safety and tolerance of the treatment.
A Study of Enpatoran in Participants With Cutaneous Manifestations of Lupus With or Without Systemic Disease
Recruiting
This trial is looking for people with skin problems related to lupus. If you join, you'll take a treatment called enpatoran for 24 weeks and have visits every 4 weeks.
A Study of Enpatoran in Participants With Cutaneous Manifestations of Lupus With or Without Systemic Disease (ELOWEN-2)
Recruiting
This trial is looking for people with active skin symptoms of lupus, with or without other types of lupus disease. If you join, you will take a medication called enpatoran for 24 weeks and visit the study site every 4 weeks.
An Efficacy and Safety Study of Intravenous Anifrolumab to Treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Pediatric Participants
Recruiting
This trial is looking for children with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to test a treatment called Anifrolumab. Participants will be monitored to understand how well the treatment works and its safety.
A Study to Evaluate the Treatment Outcomes of Subcutaneous Anifrolumab in Immunosuppressant-naïve and Biologic-naïve Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Recruiting
This trial is looking for adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have not used immunosuppressive drugs before. Participants will receive anifrolumab as an additional treatment to their regular medications for SLE.
A Study of Nipocalimab in Adults With Moderate to Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Recruiting
This trial is looking for adults with moderate to severe lupus. Participants will receive either the drug nipocalimab or a placebo to see how well it works.
Effects of Stopping Hydroxychloroquine in Elderly Lupus Disease
Recruiting
This trial is looking for older adults with lupus who want to see if they can safely stop taking hydroxychloroquine. Participants will be monitored for one year to check their disease activity.
A Study to Test Whether Different Doses of BI 3000202 Help People With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Recruiting
This trial is looking for adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to see if a medicine called BI 3000202 can help them. Participants will take the medicine or a placebo for one year while continuing their regular SLE treatment.
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of Obinutuzumab in Adolescents With Active Class III or IV Lupus Nephritis and the Safety and PK of Obinutuzumab in Pediatric Participants
Recruiting
This trial is looking for teenagers aged 12 to 18 and children aged 5 to under 12 who have been diagnosed with lupus nephritis. Participants will receive treatment with obinutuzumab and be monitored for safety and effectiveness.
RESET-SLE: A Phase 1/2 Open-Label Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of CABA-201 in Subjects With Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Recruiting
This trial is looking for adults with active systemic lupus erythematosus or lupus nephritis. Participants will receive the treatment CABA-201 and will be monitored for safety and effectiveness.
A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2a Study With an Open-Label Extension Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of VENT-03 in Adult Participants With Active Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus With or Without Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Recruiting
This trial is looking for adults with cutaneous lupus who may also have systemic lupus. Participants will take the study drug VENT-03 or a placebo for a total of 12 weeks and visit the clinic monthly for checkups.
Study of Efficacy and Safety of LNP023 in Participants With Active Lupus Nephritis Class III-IV, +/- V
Recruiting
This trial is looking for people with active lupus nephritis. Participants will take a medication called LNP023 along with their usual treatment to see how well it works and how safe it is.
VIBRANT: VIB4920 for Active Lupus Nephritis
Recruiting
This trial is looking for adults with active lupus nephritis. Participants will take VIB4920 along with other medications to see if it helps improve kidney function.
The Pediatric Lupus Nephritis Mycophenolate Mofetil (PLUMM) Study
Recruiting
This trial is looking for young people aged 8 to 20 with lupus nephritis. Participants will take a medication called Mycophenolate Mofetil and visit the study site regularly for assessments.
A Phase 2, Open-Label, Single-Arm Trial of FT819 in Participants With Lupus Nephritis
Recruiting
This trial is looking for people with lupus nephritis who have not responded well to previous treatments. Participants will receive a new therapy, FT819, to see if it helps improve kidney function over 26 weeks.
A Study to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of AZD0120 in Adults With Refractory SLE
Recruiting
This trial is looking for adults aged 18 to 70 who have severe systemic lupus erythematosus that hasn’t improved with other treatments. Participants will receive a special therapy called AZD0120 and will be monitored for its safety and effectiveness.
A Phase 1/2a Study of DB-2304 in Healthy Adults and SLE/CLE Participants
Recruiting
This trial is looking for healthy adults and adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) to participate in a study of a new treatment called DB-2304. Participants will need to complete certain tests and follow study guidelines.
PRESERVE: LUPKYNIS in Combination With Belimumab, Obinutuzumab or Anifrolumab in Patients With Lupus Nephritis
Recruiting
This trial is looking for adults with lupus nephritis who want to test a new combination treatment. Participants will need to take some specific medications and be within a certain age range.
A Study to Assess Adverse Events, How the Drug Moves Through the Body and Effectiveness of Intravenous Infusions and Subcutaneous Injections of ABBV-519 in Adult Participants With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Recruiting
This trial is looking for adults with systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. Participants will receive treatment and attend regular check-ups to assess the effects and safety of the drug.
Where the Lupus studies are in California
Research sites running the most studies
- Providence Medical Foundation, Fullerton4 trials
- Advanced Medical Research, La Palma2 trials
- Kaiser Permanente Fontana, Fontana2 trials
- Research Site, San Francisco2 trials
- Research Site, Los Angeles2 trials
- Research Site, La Jolla2 trials
By city
Counts are recruiting studies listing at least one site in California, from ClinicalTrials.gov, refreshed every two days.
Lupus clinical trials in California: common questions
How many Lupus clinical trials are recruiting in California?
TrialFinder currently lists 35 recruiting Lupus clinical trials with study sites in California. Results are updated regularly from ClinicalTrials.gov, the official U.S. registry of clinical studies.
Where are Lupus clinical trials located in California?
Study sites for the Lupus trials listed on this page include Burbank, Los Angeles, Upland, Fontana, Beverly Hills, Loma Linda. Each trial page lists every participating site with contact details, so you can find the location closest to you.
Do I need insurance to join a Lupus clinical trial in California?
No. Study-related care is covered by the trial sponsor at no cost to participants, including the study treatment, required lab tests and study visits. Many Lupus trials in California also compensate participants for time and travel. Health insurance is not required to search or enroll.
How do I qualify for a Lupus clinical trial in California?
Each study sets its own criteria based on age, Lupus diagnosis details, prior treatments, current medications and general health. The fastest way to find out is to contact a research site directly — most will pre-screen you by phone in 10 to 15 minutes at no charge. You can also create a free TrialFinder profile to be matched automatically.
Will my regular lupus medicines stop if I join a trial?
No. Lupus trials add the study treatment to a stable regimen of your current medicines. Many include a planned steroid taper as one of the goals, managed by the study doctor.
Is there a placebo in lupus trials?
Usually, but always on top of standard treatment, never instead of it, and most trials move everyone onto the active drug in an extension after the main study period.
Can I join a trial if I have lupus nephritis?
Yes. Lupus nephritis has dedicated trials that require a recent kidney biopsy and a stated level of protein in the urine. General lupus trials often exclude active nephritis, so look for the ones that name it.
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Helpful Reading
Are Clinical Trials Safe? What Patients Should Know
How clinical trial safety works — phases, IRB oversight, informed consent, and your right to withdraw — plus the real risks and questions to ask.
How to Know If You Qualify for a Clinical Trial
Every trial has eligibility criteria based on diagnosis, age, and medical history. Here's how to tell if you qualify — and what to do if you're not sure.
Clinical Trials Without Insurance: What You Need to Know
All guides →
Clinical trials cover the cost of study-related care, making them one of the few ways to access treatment without health insurance. Here's what's covered.
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About Lupus Trials
Lupus trials evaluate belimumab, anifrolumab, JAK inhibitors, and other biologics targeting the immune dysregulation behind systemic lupus erythematosus.
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