Saphnelo Approved for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Credit: AstraZeneca. The approval was based on data from 3 clinical studies that evaluated the efficacy and safety of Saphnelo in adults with moderate to severe SLE who were receiving standard therapy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Saphnelo (anifrolumab-fnia) for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus who are receiving standard therapy. Type I interferons (IFNs) play a role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Anifrolumab-fnia, a human immunoglobulin G1 kappa monoclonal antibody, binds to subunit 1 of the type I IFN receptor and blocks the biologic activity of type I IFNs.