The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Workforce
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Lupus Treatment Advances Lag Behind Other Rheumatic Diseases

Lupus Treatment Advances Lag Behind Other Rheumatic Diseases

August 11, 2016 • By Larry Beresford

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF
Green Apple/shutterstock.com

Green Apple/shutterstock.com

SAN FRANCISCO—In a presentation on advances in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at the California Rheumatology Alliance 2016 Medical & Scientific Meeting in May, Maria Dall’Era, MD, director of the Lupus Clinic and Rheumatology Clinical Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco, discussed the range of treatments that have been identified over the years for lupus. These include anti-metabolic and alkylating agents, in addition to two cornerstone drugs in use since the 1950s—hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug also used in rheumatoid arthritis, and glucocorticoids. However, advances in licensed treatments for lupus have lagged behind other rheumatic diseases and only one treatment has been approved for lupus since the 1950s. Belimumab, a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits B cell activating factor (BAFF), was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011.

You Might Also Like
  • Dr. Peter Schur Discusses Lupus Treatment, Management Advances in Past 50 Years
  • Cure, Effective Treatment for Lupus Nephritis Remain Elusive Despite Advances
  • Lupus Expert Calls for Better Research, Outcomes of Clinical Trials
Explore This Issue
August 2016
Also By This Author
  • Markers for Severe Gastrointestinal Dysmotility in Systemic Sclerosis

Many Phase II/III trials of lupus drugs have not met their primary endpoints, Dr. Dall’Era said. Demonstrating efficacy in these trials is a challenging proposition for a number of reasons. “We don’t know which are the best end points to measure. Which manifestations, because this disease is so heterogeneous? When to start, and for how long? Are we going to treat active patients in the early stages of disease, or do we treat in a maintenance phase? Should we eventually withdraw an effective therapy?” she posed. Which concomitant immunosuppressive agents and which dose of prednisone should be allowed in a study?

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

However, the future is bright, with more than 500 clinical trials of lupus therapies targeting a variety of innate and adaptive immune pathways listed at ClinicalTrials.gov. “What I’d like to emphasize regarding the reality of where we are in 2016, is that historically, there has never been more lupus clinical trial activity,” Dr. Dall’Era added in a follow-up interview with The Rheumatologist. “We are learning lessons from every negative trial. We can continue to improve trial design and increase the likelihood that we will be able to demonstrate efficacy of novel experimental agents.”

Promising Treatment Targets

Dr. Dall’Era

Dr. Dall’Era

In her presentation, Dr. Dall’Era explored two of the more promising treatment targets from all of this new research, BAFF blockade and blockade of interferon-alpha, a family of signaling glycoproteins from the larger class of cytokines secreted by immune system cells.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Regarding B cell targets, she said, “Let’s take a step back. We know that B cells are very important in the pathogenesis of lupus, and there are different ways to intervene in the B cells compartment, starting with belimumab.” Which patients are most likely to respond to belimumab? Patients with higher degrees of disease, reflected by higher SLEDAI (systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index) scores and increased serologic activity, tend to have a better response, she said. Other predictors of response include low complement; positive anti-double-stranded DNA; and use of steroids.1

Pages: 1 2 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions, SLE (Lupus) Tagged With: advances, California Rheumatology Alliance 2016, Lupus, patient care, Research, Rheumatic Disease, SLE, Treatment, updateIssue: August 2016

You Might Also Like:
  • Dr. Peter Schur Discusses Lupus Treatment, Management Advances in Past 50 Years
  • Cure, Effective Treatment for Lupus Nephritis Remain Elusive Despite Advances
  • Lupus Expert Calls for Better Research, Outcomes of Clinical Trials
  • The ACR’s Collaborative Initiatives Promote Awareness of Lupus, Rheumatic Diseases

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2021 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.