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Voclosporin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Voclosporin is a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant sold in the U.S. under one brand, for lupus nephritis. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesUpdated Jul 24, 2026How we research

Key facts

Drug class
Calcineurin Inhibitor Immunosuppressant
Treats
Lupus Nephritis
Available as
Capsule
Sold as
Lupkynis
Prescription?
Prescription only
Generic available?
Not in our catalog
Boxed warning
Boxed warning

How voclosporin is dosed

From the FDA label for Lupkynis (application NDA213716). Other voclosporin products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Administration : LUPKYNIS must be swallowed whole on an empty stomach. ( 2.1 ) Administer consistently as close to a 12-hour schedule as possible, and with at least 8 hours between doses. ( 2.1 ) If a dose is missed, instruct the patient to take it as soon as possible within 4 hours after missing the dose. Beyond the 4-hour time frame, instruct the patient to wait until the usual scheduled time to take the next regular dose. Instruct the patient not to double the next dose. ( 2.1 ) Instruct patients to avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking LUPKYNIS. ( 2.1 , 7.1 ) Dosage Recommendations : Before initiating LUPKYNIS, establish an accurate baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and check blood pressure (BP). Use of LUPKYNIS is not recommended in patients with a baseline eGFR ≤45 mL/min/1.73 m 2 unless the benefit exceeds the risk; these patients may be at increased risk for acute and/or chronic nephrotoxicity. ( 2.2 , 5.3 ) Do not initiate LUPKYNIS in patients with baseline BP >165/105 mmHg or with hypertensive emergency. ( 2.2 , 5.4 ) Recommended starting dose: 23.7 mg orally, twice a day. ( 2.3 ) Use LUPKYNIS in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and corticosteroids. ( 2.3 ) Modify the LUPKYNIS dose based on eGFR ( 2.3 , 5.3 ): Assess eGFR every two weeks for the first month, every four weeks through the first year, and…

Voclosporin side effects

The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Lymphoma and Other Malignancies [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Serious Infections [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Nephrotoxicity due to LUPKYNIS and Drug Interactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Neurotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Hyperkalemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] QTc Prolongation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Immunizations [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 ) ] Pure Red Cell Aplasia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] The most commonly reported adverse reactions (≥3%) were: glomerular filtration rate decreased, hypertension, diarrhea, headache, anemia, cough, urinary tract infection, abdominal pain upper, dyspepsia, alopecia, renal impairment, abdominal pain, mouth ulceration, fatigue, tremor, acute kidney injury, and decreased appetite. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Aurinia Pharmaceuticals at 1-833-672-0028 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the…

Who shouldn’t take voclosporin

LUPKYNIS is contraindicated in: Patients concomitantly using strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin) because these medications can significantly increase exposure to LUPKYNIS which may increase the risk of acute and/or chronic nephrotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ), Drug Interactions ( 7.1 ), and Pharmacokinetics ( 12.3 )] . Patients with a history of serious or severe hypersensitivity reaction, including anaphylaxis, to LUPKYNIS or any of its excipients [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] . Patients concomitantly using strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin). ( 4 ) History of serious or severe hypersensitivity reaction, including anaphylaxis, to LUPKYNIS or any of its excipients. ( 4 )

Voclosporin drug interactions

Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors: Reduce LUPKYNIS daily dosage to 15.8 mg in the morning and 7.9 mg in the evening. ( 2.5 , 7.1 , 12.3 ) Strong and moderate CYP3A4 inducers: Avoid co-administration. ( 7.1 , 12.3 ) Certain P-gp substrates: Reduce dosage of certain P-gp substrates with a narrow therapeutic window when co-administered with LUPKYNIS. ( 7.2 , 12.3 ) 7.1 Effect of Other Drugs on LUPKYNIS Strong and Moderate CYP3A4 Inhibitors Voclosporin is a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate. Co-administration with strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors increases voclosporin exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] , which may increase the risk of LUPKYNIS adverse reactions. Co-administration of LUPKYNIS with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin) is contraindicated [see Contraindications ( 4 )] . Reduce LUPKYNIS dosage when co-administered with moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., verapamil, fluconazole, diltiazem) [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.5 ] . Avoid food or drink containing grapefruit when taking LUPKYNIS. Strong and Moderate CYP3A4 Inducers Voclosporin is a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate. Co-administration with strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers decreases voclosporin exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] , which may decrease the efficacy of LUPKYNIS. Avoid co-administration of LUPKYNIS with strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers. 7.2 Effect of LUPKYNIS on Other Drugs Certain P-gp Substrates Voclosporin is a P-gp inhibitor. Co-administration of voclosporin increases exposure of P-gp substrates [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] , which may increase the risk of adverse reactions of these substrates. For certain P-gp substrates with a narrow therapeutic window, reduce the dosage of the substrate as recommended in its prescribing information, if needed. OATP1B1 Substrates Voclosporin is an inhibitor of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 transporters. In one clinical study the concomitant administration of a single 40 mg dose of simvastatin with 23.7 mg BID voclosporin increased C max and AUC of the active metabolite simvastatin acid (an OATP1B1 substrate) by 3.1-fold and 1.8-fold, respectively [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Monitor for adverse reactions such as myopathy and rhabdomyolysis when OATP1B1/OATP1B3 substrates (e.g., simvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, pitavastatin, fluvastatin) are used concomitantly with LUPKYNIS and reduce the dosage of these substrates as recommended in their prescribing information. For example, when taking LUPKYNIS with simvastatin, limit the simvastatin dosage to 20 mg daily, or 40 mg daily for patients who have previously tolerated simvastatin 80 mg daily for at least one year without evidence of muscle toxicity.

Every voclosporin product we track (1)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Only one: Lupkynis.

Can you crush or split voclosporin?

At least one voclosporinproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.

What each voclosporin label says about crushing, splitting and chewing

What people report to the FDA about voclosporin

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 111 reports naming voclosporin, and the FDA flagged 72% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

  • nausea20 reports
  • diarrhoea12 reports
  • herpes simplex colitis11 reports
  • proteinuria11 reports
  • disseminated herpes simplex9 reports
  • vomiting9 reports
  • gastrointestinal disorder8 reports
  • anaemia7 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean voclosporin caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved September 26, 2026.

Related calculators

Frequently asked questions

What is voclosporin?

LUPKYNIS (voclosporin) capsules, a calcineurin-inhibitor immunosuppressant, is available for administration as soft gelatin capsules containing 7.9 mg voclosporin per capsule. Inactive ingredients include alcohol, Vitamin E polyethylene glycol succinate (NF), polysorbate 40 (NF), medium-chain triglycerides (NF), gelatin, sorbitol, glycerin, iron oxide yellow, iron oxide red, titanium dioxide, and water. Voclosporin (90 to 95% trans -isomer) is the active ingredient in LUPKYNIS.

What kind of drug is voclosporin?

The FDA classifies voclosporin as a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant. Calcineurin inhibitors block an enzyme called calcineurin inside immune T-cells, which stops the cells from making interleukin-2 and other signaling chemicals. This keeps T-cells from activating and multiplying, dialing down the immune attack that drives organ rejection or autoimmune disease. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take voclosporin with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run voclosporin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What forms does voclosporin come in?

Across the brands we track, voclosporin is currently marketed as capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic voclosporin?

We do not currently list a generic-labelled voclosporin product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Cite this page
APA
pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Voclosporin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/voclosporin
MLA
“Voclosporin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/voclosporin.

We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Read the full FDA label for voclosporin on DailyMed (NIH) ↗ — including its boxed warning in full.