Aurinia Announces Result from Data and Safety Monitoring Board for Its Phase 2b Study in Lupus Nephritis - Study to Continue as Planned VICTORIA, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Announces Result from Data and Safety Monitoring Board for Its Phase 2b

Study in Lupus Nephritis - Study to Continue as Planned

VICTORIA, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2016--Aurinia

Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUPH) (TSX:AUP) ("Aurinia" or the

"Company") has announced today that the independent Data and Safety

Monitoring Board (DSMB) for the Company's Phase 2b clinical study known

as AURA has completed the fourth and final pre-specified safety review

prior to the release of the primary endpoint data, which is expected in

the third quarter of 2016. After review of available safety data, the

DSMB has again recommended that the study continue as planned without

any modifications. The AURA DSMB has been established according to the

FDA Guidance for Clinical Trial Sponsors and is guided by its charter.

Aurinia remains blinded to the actual safety and efficacy results.

The committee reviewed available safety data from all 265 patients

randomized into the study and treated for a minimum of one month. Many

of these patients have already been treated up to and beyond the 24 week

primary endpoint, and some have been treated for the full study period

"We are encouraged by the consistent recommendations of the DSMB." said

Neil Solomons, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Aurinia. "We look forward

to assessing the risk-benefit of multi-target therapy utilizing

voclosporin when reviewing the primary endpoint and key 24 week efficacy

and safety data in the third quarter of this year."

Aurinia is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the global

nephrology market. The fully-enrolled Phase 2b AURA-LV clinical trial is

evaluating the efficacy of its lead drug, voclosporin, as a treatment

for active LN. LN is an inflammation of the kidneys, that if

inadequately treated can lead to end-stage renal disease, making LN a

serious and potentially life-threatening condition.

Voclosporin is a novel and potentially best-in-class calcineurin

inhibitor ("CNI") with extensive clinical data in over 2,000 patients in

other indications. Voclosporin is made by a modification of a single

amino acid of the cyclosporine molecule (a CNI approved for use in

transplant patients since 1983). This modification results in a more

predictable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationship, an

increase in potency vs. cyclosporine, an altered metabolic profile, and

potential for flat dosing.

The AURA study or "Aurinia Urine Protein Reduction in Active Lupus

Nephritis Study" is an adequate and well-controlled clinical trial that

enrolled 265 patients and is being conducted in over 20 countries

worldwide. This trial will compare the efficacy of voclosporin against

placebo in achieving remission in patients with active lupus nephritis.

The AURA-LV study is designed to demonstrate that voclosporin can induce

a rapid and sustained reduction of proteinuria in the presence of

extremely low steroid exposure. It will compare two dosage groups of

voclosporin (23.7mg and 39.5mg) compared to placebo, with all patients

receiving mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and oral corticosteroids as

background therapy. There will be a primary analysis to determine

complete remission at week 24 (confirmed at 26 weeks) and various

secondary analyses at week 48 which include biomarkers and markers of

We seek Safe Harbor.

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

(250) 744-2498 (fax)

Financial Communications Inc.

Barry Mire: bmire@renmarkfinancial.com

Welsh: lwelsh@renmarkfinancial.com

Tel: (416) 644-2020 or