Levels of proteins associated with changes in the inner wall of blood vessels — the endothelium —  are higher in children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are potential biomarkers of disease activity, as well as of brain and kidney involvement, a study suggests. The study, “…
Higher expression of nine genes may help identify people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who will respond to treatment with Stelara (ustekinumab) — an approved therapy in inflammatory disorders but not in SLE. At the 2019 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/Association for Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP) Annual Meeting,…
A new public-private initiative brings academic and industry researchers from 15 European countries together in a large-scale effort to understand differences and commonalities in seven immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), to better predict a patient’s response to treatment and likely disease progression. The project, called 3TR (for…
People with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who stop treatment with hydroxychloroquine less than 12 months after its start are at a higher risk of flares than those who continue using it for at least one year, a study suggests. The research, “Outcomes of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in…
The European Commission has approved the use of intravenous Benlysta (belimumab) as an add-on to standard therapy for children ages 5 and older with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and high disease activity. “This approval means that for the first time in Europe these children can be treated with a biologic…
More than 40% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients do not comply with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy, even among people who have insurance coverage, low copayments, and availability of high levels of care, a study reveals. Meanwhile, being older, white, and having more frequent rheumatology visits — suggesting higher…
A Phase 3 trial assessing the potential of voclosporin as an add-on to standard treatment for people with lupus nephritis has completed patient visits. “With the completion of patient visits in the AURORA study, we now look forward to reporting out the efficacy and safety results by the…
Expanding its Us in Lupus effort, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has planned “Night of Beauty” events to reach women of color, a group disproportionately affected by this disease. Us in Lupus is a 12-week online community and education program for new lupus patients. The upcoming events are extending support to…
Adding low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) to standard therapy increases responses and complete remission of lupus nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), results of a randomized clinical trial suggest. Patients on IL-2 had higher proportions of regulatory T cells, a subset of immune T cells associated with…
Apellis Pharmaceuticals has decided to stop the development of an experimental therapy known as APL-2 for lupus nephritis and primary membranous nephropathy after the completion of an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial. The open-label Phase 2 DISCOVERY trial (NCT03453619) is testing APL-2 in four kidney…