Andrea Lobo, PhD, science writer —

Andrea Lobo holds a PhD in cell biology/neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. As a research scientist for 19 years, Andrea participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, from stroke, gene regulation, cancer, and rare diseases. She has authored multiple research papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

FDA grants fast track designation to CAR T-cell therapy for SLE

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast track designation to Caribou Biosciences‘ CAR T-cell therapy CB-010 for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) — the most common form of lupus — that’s resistant to available treatments, the company announced in a press release. This designation is…

Clinical trial of NKX019, cell therapy for lupus nephritis, opens

Patient screening is underway in a U.S.-based clinical trial of NKX019, an investigational natural killer (NK) cell therapy for people with treatment-resistant lupus nephritis, a serious complication of lupus, its developer, Nkarta, announced. The trial, called Ntrust-1, is a multicenter and open-label study to assess the safety,…

Mutations increasing TLR7 activity may be lupus cause: Study

Mutations in the UNC93B1 gene — which produces a protein involved in the regulation of certain immune proteins, called toll-like receptors, or TLRs — may drive autoimmunity in people with lupus and other autoimmune conditions, according to a new study into the genetic cause of lupus and related diseases.

AlloNK cell therapy wins FDA fast track status for lupus nephritis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast track status to AlloNK, an experimental natural killer (NK) cell therapy, for treating lupus nephritis, when given in combination with rituximab or obinutuzumab. Fast track status is designed to aid the development and accelerate the review of investigational treatments…

Atara asks FDA to clear ATA3219 for clinical testing in lupus nephritis

Atara Biotherapeutics has submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for permission to test ATA3219, a CAR T-cell therapy, in clinical trials involving systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with lupus nephritis. CAR T-cell therapies are based on immune T-cells, which…

Lupkinis plus MMF most effective in lupus nephritis; tacrolimus safest

A combination of Lupkinis (viclosporin) with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was the most effective at managing lupus nephritis, according to a systematic review of clinical trial data. The treatment was also associated with the highest risk of infections and serious infections, indicating a lower safety profile than other immunosuppressive…

NKF launches educational video series for lupus, lupus nephritis

The National Kidney Foundation (NFK) has launched a patient-friendly video series to help patients better understand the association between lupus and lupus nephritis. Marked by kidney inflammation and damage, lupus nephritis is considered to be one of the most severe complications of lupus, since it may compromise the…

Specific autoantibodies can raise cardiovascular disease risk with SLE

Certain self-reactive antibodies, called antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs), significantly increase the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a study shows. Among aPLS, “we identified that [anticardiolipin antibodies] and lupus anticoagulant positivity are independently associated with [cardiovascular disease], after adjusting…