News

Voclosporin for Lupus Meets Primary Goal in Phase 2b Trial

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…

Lupus Patients Decrease Clinical Health Care Use Over Time

Researchers investigated health care use by people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and found that patients were more apt to seek clinical care during the first few years after diagnosis, but became less inclined over time. SLE patients also tend to turn increasingly more to general physician care, over encounters with specialists such as rheumatologists. The research…

Xencor Highlights Potential Lupus Therapy Now in Phase 2 Testing

During the recent Analyst Day event in New York, Xencor highlighted its lead candidate to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), now in Phase 2 clinical testing, and other potential treatments advancing in development. “We believe our flexible bispecific oncology platform has substantial potential. Our programs are built on a novel XmAb Fc…

XTL Files New Patent Application for Lupus Therapy Low-dose hCDR1

XTL Biopharmaceuticals has filed a new U.S. patent application to protect doses of hCDR1 lower than 0.5 mg per week to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). XTL is a clinical-stage biotech that develops products for the treatment of autoimmune diseases like lupus. The company’s lead drug candidate, hCDR1 has…

Anthera’s Phase 3 Blisibimod for Lupus Study Nears Conclusion

Anthera Pharmaceuticals recently announced that the last patient in the company’s Phase 3 clinical trial, evaluating blisibimod for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, has received the the final dose. The study will be completed and the data analyzed within the next two months, just in time for the upcoming American…

Lupus Autoimmune B-cells Escape miRNA Quality Control, Study Shows

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute identified key mechanisms contributing to the generation of autoimmune B-cells that attack the body’s own tissues in diseases like systemic lupus eurythematosus. In a cluster of microRNA (miRNA) molecules, the research team found one factor with exaggerated presence that allows faulty cells to sneak…

I Am a Lupus Warrior

Being that this is my first blog post with y’all, I’ll start out by introducing myself with a warm hello and a virtual hug.   I know at some point we all end up adding labels to people because it can be the easiest way to get a feel for someone’s personality and their…

Arzerra Seen as Alternative for Lupus Patients with Adverse Reactions to Rituxan

Reactions following Rituxan (rituximab) infusions often limit its repeat use in patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and the alternative B-cell-depleting agent Arzerra (ofatumumab) may be a good option for these people, according to researchers at the Karolinska Institute. Their study, “Ofatumumab treatment in lupus nephritis patients“, published in…