Anthera Pharmaceuticals announced that blisibimod has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Blisibimod targets B-cell activating factor, or BAFF, which has been shown to be elevated in a variety of B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases, including IgAN, systemic lupus erythematosus, and others.


