News

A combination of specific biomarkers — circulating immune complexes (CIC) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) — may  help better predict disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), a recent study suggests. The study, “The model of circulating immune complexes and interleukin-6 improves the prediction of disease activity in…

ImmunoQure AG and Servier have entered into a strategic partnership to develop a new therapy that could benefit patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren’s syndrome. The planned therapy would consist of antibodies derived from humans that block the naturally occurring protein interferon alpha, a protein important in…

A video storytelling campaign and contest, called #IAmInvisibleNoMore, intended to raise awareness of “invisible” disabilities — which can range from  lupus to heart disease or depression — has been launched by the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) and the private company Allsup. IDA is an advocacy and support group…

Canada’s Aurinia Pharmaceuticals has launched ALL IN, an educational program to raise awareness of lupus nephritis. The disease, which affects about 200,000 Americans, is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It prevents kidneys from properly removing waste from the blood and controlling the…

Long-term use of Benlysta (belimumab), an approved therapy, is both safe and effective, reducing disease activity in most systemic lupus erythematosus patients, according to a study that followed patients in the U.S. for seven years. The multicenter extension study involved patients who had completed 72 weeks of treatment in the BLISS-76…

Researchers have found that the antibody epratuzumab, which targets CD22 receptors, significantly reduces the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients who also have Sjögren’s syndrome. A post-hoc analysis of the Phase 3 EMBODY trials, however, shows that the treatment is not effective in those without Sjögren’s syndrome. A post-hoc analysis…

Determining the activity of an enzyme in the blood could help doctors diagnose and track the progression of lupus, a Chinese study suggests. The research, “Serum adenosine deaminase activity is increased in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and correlated with disease activity,” was published in the journal Immunologic Research. A…

While lupus nephritis usually develops within five years of a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis, a case study of three patients shows that the condition may rarely appear 15 years or more after diagnosis. In the report, researchers call it “very delayed lupus nephritis,” pointing out it is to be distinguished…

In addition to their role in coagulation and healing, platelets seem to be involved in the response to foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses, contributing to an exacerbated immune response, a new study shows. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), suggests that platelets play…

Researchers identified a new player involved in the development of lupus nephritis, providing potentially new therapeutic intervention points. The protein, iRhom2, is part of a pathway that, until now, could not be blocked due to its role in other essential functions. But targeting iRhom2 retained its healthy functions while preventing kidney damage.