Design and Rationale of the Phase 2 Baricitinib Study in Apolipoprotein L1–Mediated Kidney Disease (JUSTICE)

Individuals of recent West African ancestry develop focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and hypertension-attributed end-stage kidney disease (HTN-ESKD) at 4 times the rate of White Americans. Two protein-coding variants of the Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene, G1 and G2, explain 50% to 70% of the excess risk of HTN-ESKD and FSGS among this group. Increased expression of G1 and G2 in the kidney, mediated by Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling, drive pathogenesis of these kidney diseases. Baricitinib is an orally active inhibitor of JAK1/2 that blocks APOL1 synthesis. The Janus kinase-STAT Inhibition to Reduce APOL1-Associated Kidney Disease (JUSTICE) trial is evaluating the antiproteinuric efficacy and safety of baricitinib in patients with APOL1-associated FSGS and HTN-attributed chronic kidney disease (HTN-CKD).