Harmless bacteria that live in the skin, mouth and gut may trigger autoimmunity in people who are genetically disposed to it, according to a study with lupus implications. This means that targeting what scientists call commensal bacteria could be a way to development treatments for lupus and other autoimmune diseases,…
Treatment with atacicept — a protein that targets the immune system — significantly reduced disease flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), data from EMD Serono‘s Phase 2 trial shows. The study, “Reduction of systemic lupus flares by atacicept in a randomized, placebo- controlled,…
Zhijian “James” Chen, PhD recently was awarded the 2018 Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) for his discovery of how DNA stimulates immune responses, potentially causing autoimmune diseases like lupus. The Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences will be presented to…
Top-line results of ImmuPharma’s Phase 3 clinical trial testing Lupuzor (rigerimod) as a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treatment are expected by mid-April, according to the company. ImmuPharma also announced that database lock of the trial is expected by April 6. This milestone prevents unauthorized or unintended alterations to…
Suppressing the key inflammatory protein iRhom2 reduced inflammation and prevented kidney scarring in mice susceptible to developing lupus, a study suggests. This approach could be the basis of new treatments for kidney damage in patients with lupus and other autoimmune diseases, researchers believe. The study, “iRhom2 promotes…
New York scientists have come up with a new way to measure electric signals in the major nerve running from the head to the abdomen — a discovery that could improve diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases like lupus. The team at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research used mice to do…
GSK is starting a Phase 3 trial of Benlysta (belimumab) in combination with Rituxan (rituximab) for treating patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The ability of the combination to provide sustained disease control or remission will be tested. Benlysta is the only approved biological medication…
Biologic treatments for lupus and other autoimmune diseases are safe for women who are pregnant, and do not have a significant effect on births, a study finds. The study, published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, is titled “Risk of preterm delivery and small-for-gestational-age births in women…
Native American patients are diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at an earlier age and present with worse concurrent rheumatic disease symptoms than European Americans, a new study shows. The study with those findings, “Unique clinical characteristics, autoantibodies and medication use in Native American patients with systemic…
Pulmonary manifestations, specifically interstitial lung disease (ILD) and serositis — inflammation of tissues lining the lungs — are more common in late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients than in those with early-onset disease, a study shows. The study, “Pulmonary manifestations in late versus early systemic lupus…