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…
Roughly 40% of children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience at least mild physical disability, a study shows. The study, published in Lupus, also revealed that those with lower household income, arthritis, and higher pain scores were significantly more likely to have reduced physical function. Titled “…
People who have a lot of antibodies in their blood when they receive a lupus diagnosis are at greater risk of developing the kidney condition lupus nephritis later on, a South Korean study shows. This finding could help doctors identify patients at risk of having lupus affect their kidneys, giving…
A Phase 2b clinical trial assessing Neovacs’ investigational immunotherapy for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is on schedule to deliver results by mid-2018, the company recently said. The announcement follows an independent review board’s fourth and final evaluation of the trial, signing off on safety and other considerations,…
It took more than three years for 1,000 Britons with lupus, scleroderma and vasculitis to obtain a correct diagnosis after their symptoms began, a study shows. The research was based on a survey of 2,000 patients’ shared experiences, so the three-year delayed affected about half. The Rare Autoimmune Rheumatic…
Amgen is launching a Phase 1/2 clinical trial to evaluate its investigational AMG 592 therapy in treating active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The randomized trial (NCT03451422) will test the therapy’s safety and effectiveness in patients with active lupus. Enrollment has not yet begun but is estimated at 132 participants. Therapy…
Scientists studying lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can obtain information on the individual cells of patients taking part in Phase 1 clinical trials, the National Institutes for Health has announced. A key reason the NIH started the Accelerating Medicines Partnership for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus initiative was to provide researchers with such information.