Withdrawn due to difficulties in to recruiting due to competing studies, changing treatment practices, unavailability of eligible study population

The main clinical study will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, long term study involving a 100 week treatment period. The purpose of this study is to test for superiority of treatment with belimumab 10 mg/kg plus supportive therapy compared to placebo plus supportive therapy in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). The purpose of this study is also to investigate the effect of initiating earlier treatment with belimumab compared to delayed treatment with current immunosuppressive treatment regimens. The study will also determine the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of belimumab and further explore the mechanism of action of Belimumab as well as effects on quality of life. All subjects (on either active treatment or placebo) will receive background supportive therapy throughout the main clinical study, which includes angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and/or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) unless contraindicated and may include statins, diuretics, dietary salt restriction but excludes immunosuppressants (except low dose corticosteroids). Screening will be done within 5 to 2 weeks before the first scheduled dose of study treatment. A total of 94 evaluable subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio such that 47 subjects receive intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg and 47 receive intravenous placebo. Subjects will be dosed on Days 0, 14, 28 and then every 4 weeks through to, and including, Week 100, resulting in a total of 27 doses (giving 104 weeks of drug exposure). The dosing frequency will be adjusted to every 2 weeks if the subject's proteinuria as assessed by urinary protein creatinine ratio (PCR) is greater than 1000mg/mmol (greater than 10 g/24 h), to compensate for loss of belimumab in the urine. Subjects who are withdrawn from study treatment at any time during the study, eg for rescue therapy, will participate in follow-up visits every 12 weeks up to week 104. A subject will be regarded as having completed the main clinical study if they complete all phases of the main clinical study (screening, treatment period, 4 week and 16 week post last dose short term safety follow-up). Subjects who complete the main clinical study will therefore participate in the main clinical study for approximately 28 months. After the main clinical study, there will be a 5 year (long term) follow-up phase to assess long term outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age & Gender: Male or female between 18 and 75 years of age inclusive, at the time of signing the informed consent.
• Histological diagnosis: Have clinical diagnosis of IMN, as verified by biopsy (either by light microscope with immuno-fluorescence, or by electron microscope) in the last 3 years (biopsy results [and slides where possible] should be available for independent evaluation). For patients with relapsed disease, a biopsy should be available within the preceding 7 years.
• Proteinuria: Have clinically active disease (nephrotic range proteinuria) for at least 3 months prior to screening and no improvement (<30% reduction), despite supportive therapy (which must include maximal tolerated doses of ACE inhibitor or ARB unless contraindicated, and may include statins, diuretics, dietary salt restriction). During screening proteinuria must be >400 mg/mmol by uPCR (or >4.0 g per 24 hrs) as measured from a 24 hrs urine collection and/or spot urine sample (early morning where possible) on 2 occasions at least 7 days apart.
• Proteinuria in patients with relapsed disease: Patients who previously achieved proteinuria <2 g per 24h for at least 6 months and have subsequently relapsed with proteinuria levels as documented above, may be eligible providing recurrence has been within the previous 3 years and patient is known to be anti-PLA2R positive.
• Female Subject is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or nursing; is non-childbearing potential. Females of child-bearing potential must agree to use one of the approved contraception methods for an appropriate period of time (as determined by the product label or investigator) prior to the start of dosing to sufficiently minimise the risk of pregnancy at that point. Female subjects must agree to use contraception until 16 weeks after the last dose.
• French subjects: In France, a subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if either affiliated to or a beneficiary of a social security category.
• Inclusion Criteria for Long Term Follow-up: Subjects who have signed informed consent for the Long Term Follow-up and have completed 2 years study treatment and the 16 week follow-up visit, or who have withdrawn early from study treatment but completed the Week 104 Withdrawn visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-Idiopathic MN or other condition affecting the kidney: If the diagnosis of MN is secondary to other conditions, or the subject has renal impairment from a condition that is not MN. Causes of secondary MN include (but are not limited to) Immune diseases (Systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus; rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's disease, Grave's disease, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjogren's syndrome, primary biliary cirrhosis, bullous pemphigoid, small bowel enteropathy syndrome, dermatitis herpetiformis, ankylosing spondylitis, graft-versus-host-disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome); or Infectious or parasitic diseases (Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C, syphilis, filariasis, hydatid disease, schistosomiasis, malaria, leprosy); or Drugs and toxins (Gold, penicillamine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, mercury, captopril, formaldehyde, hydrocarbons, bucillamine); or Miscellaneous(Tumors excluded with reasonable diligence, renal transplantation, sarcoidosis, sickle cell disease, Kimura disease, angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia).
• Anti-PLA2R autoantibody: Patients known to be negative for anti-PLA2R autoantibody.
• Severely reduced or deteriorating kidney function: An eGFR at screening <40 mL/min/1.73m^2 (as determined by 4 variable version MDRD equation) or kidney function not stable (as defined by >15% decrease in eGFR in 3 months before screening unless due to medication change).
• Blood Pressure: Uncontrolled hypertension defined as blood pressure (BP) >150/90 mmHg (treatment target <=140/80)
• Prior Therapy: Have received treatment with the following therapies at the times specified prior to Day 0: Therapy - B-cell targeted therapy except rituximab (e.g., other anti- CD20 agents, anti-CD22 [epratuzumab], anti-CD52 [alemtuzumab], BLyS-receptor fusion protein [BR3], TACI Fc, or belimumab), Time period: anytime; Therapy: Rituximab (subjects with rituximab treatment between 1 and 2 years prior to Day 0 are eligible if there is documented evidence of B-cell repopulation to >50% of pre-treatment levels), Period: 2 years; Therapy: Abatacept and any other biologic investigational agent other than B cell targeted therapy (i.e. not approved for sale in the country in which it is being used), Time Period: 364 days; Therapy: Cyclophosphamide or chlorambucil 3 or more courses of systemic corticosteroids for concomitant conditions (e.g., asthma, atopic dermatitis). (Topical or inhaled steroids are permitted.), Time Period: 180 days; Therapy: Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) or anti-IL-6 therapy (e.g. adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, tocilizumab). Interleukin-1 receptor antagonists (e.g. anakinra). Other immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory agents (e.g azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, mycophenolate mofetil (PO)/ mycophenolate mofetil hydrochloride (IV), mycophenolate sodium (PO), methotrexate, tacrolimus, sirolimus, thalidomide, leflunomide, mizoribine, ciclosporin). Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Plasmapheresis, leukapheresis, Time Period: 90 days; Therapy: A non-biologic investigational agent (i.e. not approved for sale in the country in which it is being used). Intravenous corticosteroid, Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Aliskiren. A change in dose of >50% for angiotensin pathway antihypertensive (e.g., ACE inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker), Time Period: 60 days; Therapy: A live vaccine. Greater than 30mg/day corticosteroid, Time Period: 30 days; Therapy: Greater than 10mg/day corticosteroid. A change in dose of a corticosteroid. Note: Changes to inhaled steroids and new topical immunosuppressive agents (e.g., eye drops, topical creams) are allowed, Time Period: 14 days.
• Transplantation: Have a history of a major organ transplant (e.g., heart, lung, kidney, liver) or hematopoietic stem cell/marrow transplant.
• Cancer: Have a history of malignant neoplasm within the last 5 years, except for adequately treated cancers of the skin (basal or squamous cell) or carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix.
• Acute or chronic infection: Have required management of acute or chronic infections such as currently on any suppressive therapy for a chronic infection such as tuberculosis, pneumocystis, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, herpes zoster and atypical mycobacteria); or hospitalisation for treatment of infection within 60 days prior to Day 0; or use of parenteral (IV or IM) antibiotics (anti-bacterials, anti-virals, anti-fungals, or anti-parasitic agents) within 60 days prior to Day 0.
• Liver disease: Current or chronic history of liver disease, or known hepatic or biliary abnormalities (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones).
• Other diseases/conditions: Have clinical evidence of significant unstable or uncontrolled acute or chronic diseases not due to IMN (i.e., cardiovascular, pulmonary, haematologic, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, neurological, malignancy or infectious diseases) which, in the opinion of the investigator, could confound the results of the study or put the subject at undue risk; or have a planned surgical procedure or a history of any other medical disease (e.g. cardiopulmonary), laboratory abnormality, or condition (e.g., poor venous access) that, in the opinion of the investigator, makes the subject unsuitable for the study.
• Positive serology: Have a historically positive HIV test or test positive at screening for HIV. Serologic evidence of Hepatitis B (HB) infection based on the results of testing for HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs. Positive test for Hepatitis C antibody confirmed on the same sample with a Hepatitis C RIBA immunoblot assay if available.
• Liver function tests: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >=2x upper limit of normal (ULN); alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin >1.5xULN (isolated bilirubin >1.5ULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin <35%).
• Immunodeficiency: Have an IgA deficiency (IgA level < 10 mg/dL) or have IgG level <250 mg/dL and have previously received any non-glucocorticoid immunosuppression during the previous 6 months.
• Laboratory test abnormalities: Have clinically significant abnormalities in screening laboratory assessments (not related to the disease), as judged by investigator.
• Drug sensitivity / Anaphylaxis: History of sensitivity or intolerance to any of the study medications, or components thereof or a history of drug or other allergy that, in the opinion of the investigator or GSK Medical Monitor, contraindicates their participation. History of an anaphylactic reaction to parenteral administration of contrast agents, human or murine proteins or monoclonal antibodies.
• Suicidality: Subjects who have evidence of serious suicide risk including any history of suicidal behaviour in the last 6 months and/or any suicide ideation of type 4 or 5 on the Columbia Suicide-Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) in the last 2 months or who in the investigator's judgement, pose a significant suicide risk.
• Substance abuse: Evidence of current drug or alcohol abuse or dependence.
• Blood donation: Where participation in the study would result in donation of blood or blood products in excess of 500 mL within a 56 day period.