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…
Despite limited evidence that opioids reduce pain in people with rheumatic diseases, a study has found that nearly one in three adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) use prescription opioids for pain control, with two-thirds of them using these medications for longer than one year. The study, “…
Positive early Phase 1 clinical data in healthy volunteers support Kangpu Biopharmaceuticals’ plan to advance KPG-818 into clinical trials in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or blood cancers. KPG-818 is a small molecule designed to inhibit the activity of the CRL4-CRBN protein complex. CRBN, or cereblon, is a…
Taking vitamin D supplements does not improve bone health in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), at least in the short-term, a small clinical trial suggests. The study, “Effect of vitamin D on serum markers of bone turnover in SLE in a randomised controlled trial,”…