Human APRIL Antibody - Sibeprenlimab Biosimilar

Sibeprelimab background

Sibeprenlimab (aka VIS-949) is a therapeutic, humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets the human APRIL (A proliferation-inducing ligand) [1]. By binding to APRIL, Sibeprenlimab prevents it from interacting with its receptors TACI and BCMA on the surface of immune cells, thus inhibiting its downstream functions, notably mature B cell development, immunoglobulin (Ig) class switching, and plasmocyte survival [1].
APRIL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor cytokine family [2]. Together with the related cytokine BAFF (B-cell activation factor), it belongs to the BAFF-APRIL system, which is critical for B-cell function. Dysregulation in the BAFF-APRIL axis is associated with autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)3 and immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN)[1,2], as well as blood cancers [3].
Sibeprenlimab has been under clinical evaluation for the treatment of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) [4,5].

References:

1. Myette J.R., et al., 2019. A Proliferation Inducing Ligand (APRIL) targeted antibody is a safe and effective treatment of murine IgA nephropathy. Kidney International. 96(1):104.
2. Mathur M., et al., 2022. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of VIS649 (Sibeprenlimab), an APRIL-Neutralizing IgG2 Monoclonal Antibody, in Healthy Volunteers. Kidney International Reports. 7(5):993.
3. Ullah M.A. & Mackay F., 2023. The BAFF/APRIL system in cancer. Cancers. 15:1791.
4. NCT05248646 https://clinicaltrials.gov (accessed October 2025). 
5. NCT05248659 https://clinicaltrials.gov (accessed October 2025).