A  recently published clinical study announced by Resolve Therapeutics shows that the levels of blood circulating RNA are connected to disease activity and immune stimulating gene expression in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The finding offers new treatment target for the disease. The study,  “Blood-borne RNA correlates with disease activity and…
I’ve been wanting to talk about this subject for a while now, but it’s so complex a topic that I didn’t even know where to start. Hell, I hate ’em and love ’em all in the same instance, but they are a necessary evil in my life. You…
Anthera Pharmaceuticals announced that William Shanahan, MD, has been appointed its chief medical officer, with responsibilities that include advancing a potential treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) now in a Phase 3 clinical study. Shanahan, a rheumatologist, brings to the company years of experience in drug development, and will lead the analysis of results…
Idera Pharmaceuticals recently presented pre-clinical data on the mechanisms of action behind its antisense (3GA) technology platform, a gene silencing technology whose potential disease indications include, but are not limited to, lupus nephritis. Idera’s 3GA technology specifically silences disease-causing genes using small molecules called oligonucleotides, which offer an improvement over…
The Lupus Research Alliance welcomed the report, by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, of positive top-line results in its Phase 2 clinical trial results of voclosporin, an investigational treatment for lupus nephritis (LN). The group, however, is awaiting further analysis of findings, especially those addressing potential safety concerns. Lupus nephritis (LN) is a…
In a recent published article, the president and chief executive officer of Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) Sandra C. Raymond discussed important aspects of lupus mortality. “Over the years, pioneering physicians, using therapies borrowed from other diseases, have painstakingly developed treatment regimens that have helped to reduce mortality associated with…
Many studies have established that patients with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), Sjögren’s syndrome, and systemic lupus erythomatosus (SLE) have an increased risk for developing another autoimmune disease, but why this happens is still not fully understood. In a recent news report that presented data from multiple studies addressing the…
Improper clearing of dying cells and elevated levels of RNA and DNA in serum are connected to increased chronic inflammation in autoimmune diseases. In a recent study, researchers at Duke University showed that scavenger molecules that feed on the nucleic acids not only reduce chronic inflammation in mice with lupus, but also…
Results from two Phase 3 trials revealed that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can benefit from the recombinant human monoclonal antibody Benlysta (belimumab) when it is used with steroids. The study, “Impact of concomitant medication use on belimumab efficacy and safety in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus,”…
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals recently announced positive top-line results from the voclosporin Phase 2b clinical trial AURA-LV (AURA) in patients with active lupus nephritis (LN) after achieving its primary endpoint. Voclosporin is an investigational immunosuppressant with a synergistic and dual mechanism of action that can potentially improve near- and long-term outcomes…