In December, the FDA approved belimumab, the first drug approved to treat lupus nephritis, an historic action that was rapidly followed in January by the approval of a second treatment for lupus nephritis, voclosporin. ... [Read More]
(Reuters Health)—Intravenous belimumab combined with standard lupus therapy can help preserve kidney function in patients with active lupus nephritis and cut the odds of death or a renal-related event by half, a phase 3 multinational study has concluded.1 After two years of therapy, 43% of 224 volunteers getting the drug monthly showed a renal response… [Read More]
In an international clinical trial, adding the drug belimumab to standard maintenance therapy for patients in remission with vasculitis did not lower the relapse rate. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the safety and efficacy of belimumab as adjunctive therapy to maintain remission in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV). Results of the multi-center, industry-sponsored… [Read More]
Results from a Phase 3 study showed ixekizumab significantly improved the signs and symptoms of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in patients…... [Read More]
In a long-term extension study, belimumab proved safe, demonstrating low organ damage accrual in SLE patients treated for up to nine years…... [Read More]
A yearlong pilot study that evaluated the safety and efficacy of belimumab in a small group of patients with early diffuse systemic sclerosis found no significant difference in the number of adverse events between those treated with the drug and those who received a placebo. Currently, no drugs are approved specifically for the treatment of… [Read More]
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Subcutaneous belimumab improves outcomes in anti-dsDNA-positive hypocomplementemic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to results from a Phase 3 randomized, controlled trial. Intravenous belimumab is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of patients with active, autoantibody-positive SLE who are receiving standard… [Read More]
Subcutaneous belimumab has been approved in the EU to help treat patients with active autoantibody-positive SLE…... [Read More]
Clinical trials have begun to determine if disodium zoledronate tetrahydrate is safe and effective for treating pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The FDA has approved the use of ixekizumab for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. And a study has shown that patients with SLE treated with belimumab may be able to decrease steroid use…... [Read More]
Information on new approvals and medication safety... [Read More]