Phase 3 Study to Evaluate Ianalumab on Top of Standard-of-care Therapy in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SIRIUS-SLE 2)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female participants aged 12 years or older at the time of screening, orlimited to 18 years or older in European Economic Area countries and other countrieswhere inclusion of participants below 18 years is not allowed.

• Diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus meeting the 2019 European League AgainstRheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) SLE classification criteriaat least 6 months prior to screening.

• Elevated serum titers at screening of anti-nuclear antibodies ≥ 1:80 as determinedby a central laboratory with a SLE-typical fluorescence pattern.

• Currently receiving CS and/or anti-malarial treatment and/or anotherdisease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) as specified in the protocol.

• SLEDAI-2K criteria at screening: SLEDAI-2K score ≥ 6 points, excluding pointsattributed to "fever", "lupus headache", "alopecia", and "organic brain syndrome"

• BILAG-2004 disease activity level at screening of at least 1 of the following:

• BILAG-2004 level 'A' disease in ≥ 1 organ system, Or

• BILAG-2004 level 'B' disease in ≥ 2 organ systems

• Weigh at least 35 kg at screening

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior treatment with ianalumab

• History of receiving following treatment I) high dose CS, calcineurin inhibitors,JAK or other kinase inhibitors or other DMARD (except as listed in inclusioncriteria) administered within 12 weeks prior to screening II) cyclophosphamide orbiologics such as immunoglobulins (intravenous or s.c.), plasmapheresis, anti-type Iinterferon receptor biologic agents, anti-CD40 agents, CTLA4-Fc Ig or B-cellactivating factor (BAFF)-targeting agents administered within 24 weeks prior toscreening; belimumab administered within 12 weeks prior to screening. III) any Bcell-depleting therapies, other than ianalumab administered within 36 weeks prior torandomization or as long as B cell count is less than the lower limit of normal orbaseline value prior to receipt of B cell-depleting therapy (whichever is lower).IV) Traditional Chinese medicines administered within 30 days prior to randomization

• Active viral, bacterial or other infections requiring intravenous or intramusculartreatment for clinically significant infection

• Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV)

• Evidence of active tuberculosis infection

• History of primary or secondary immunodeficiency, including a positive humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV) test result at screening

• Any one of the following abnormal laboratory values prior to randomization:

• Platelets < 25000/ mm^3 (< 25 x 10^3/ μL)

• Hemoglobin (Hgb) < 8.0 g/dL (< 5 mmol/L), or < 7.0 g/dL (< 4.3 mmol/L) ifrelated to participant's SLE such as in active hemolytic anaemia

• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) (< 0.8 x 10^3/ μL)

• Severe organ dysfunction or life-threatening disease at screening

• Presence of severe lupus kidney disease as defined by proteinuria above 2 g/day orequivalent using spot urine protein creatinine ratio, or serum creatinine greaterthan 2.0 mg/dL (176.84 µmol/L), or requiring immune-suppressive induction ormaintenance treatment at screening

• Receipt of live/attenuated vaccine within a 4-week period before first dosing

• Any uncontrolled, co-existing serious disease, which in the opinion of theinvestigator will place the participant at risk for participation or interfere withevaluation for SLE-related symptoms

• Non-lupus conditions such as asthma, gout or urticaria, requiring intermittent orchronic treatment with systemic CS

• History of malignancy of any organ system other than localized basal cell carcinomaof the skin or in situ cervical cancer

• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women.

• Women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP), defined as all women physiologicallycapable of becoming pregnant, unless they are using highly effective methods ofcontraception while on study treatment and for 6 months after stopping ofinvestigational drug.

• Any surgical, medical, psychiatric or additional physical condition that mayjeopardize participation in this study