September 2023

Preclinical Evidence for the Glucocorticoid-Sparing Potential of a Dual Toll-Like Receptor 7/8 Inhibitor in Autoimmune Diseases

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2023 doi: 10.1124/jpet.123.001744 Epub ahead of print

Preclinical evidence indicates a glucocorticoid (GC)-sparing potential for toll-like receptor (TLR)7/8 inhibitor compounds, suggesting TLR7/8i may offer a new strategy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

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Health Related Quality of Life, Remission and Low Lupus Disease Activity State in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead407 Epub ahead of print

One of the first studies to investigate associations between disease activity and QoL, using validated generic and disease-specific PRO questionnaires, found that DORIS remission and LLDAS were associated with significant and clinically relevant higher QoL in most PRO domains of the LupusPRO (disease specific) and SF-36 (generic) questionnaires, but not with LupusQoL and SLEQOL disease-specific questionnaires.

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August 2023

Effect of Belimumab on Kidney-related Outcomes in Patients with Lupus Nephritis: Post Hoc Subgroup Analyses of the Phase 3 BLISS-LN Trial

Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2023;38(12):2733–42 doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfad167 Epub ahead of print.

These data highlight the consistent benefit of belimumab versus placebo, combined with standard therapy, on kidney outcomes in both newly diagnosed and relapsed patients, and regardless of the use of GC pulses at induction.

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SGLT2 Inhibitors Alleviated Podocyte Damage in Lupus Nephritis by Decreasing Inflammation and Enhancing Autophagy

Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224242

Data revealed a renoprotective effect of SGLT2 inhibitors by reducing proteinuria and preserving renal function in the murine MRL/lpr lupus model.

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July 2023

Risk and Factors Associated with Disease Manifestations in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Lupus Nephritis (RIFLE-LN): A Ten-year Risk Prediction Strategy Derived from a Cohort of 1652 Patients

Front Immunol. 2023 14:1200732 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1200732

Using data from a longitudinal cohort of SLE patients of Chinese origin, the authors identified risk factors for LN and developed a prediction model, RIFLE-LN, which demonstrated good performance in a testing cohort of 270 patients.

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Update on the Efficacy and Safety Profile of Voclosporin: An Integrated Analysis of Clinical Trials in Lupus Nephritis

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023 Jul;75(7):1399–1408 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25007

Pooled analysis of data from the AURA-LV phase 2 and AURORA 1 phase 3 trials of voclosporin in patients with active LN demonstrated that significantly more patients achieved a complete renal response at 1 year in the voclosporin than the control group (p<0.0001), with no observation of new safety signals.

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Medication Cost Concerns and Disparities in Patient-reported Outcomes Among a Multiethnic Cohort of Patients with Lupus

J Rheumatol. 2023 Jun 15:jrheum.2023-0060 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.2023-0060

An analysis of the California Lupus Epidemiology Study cohort demonstrated that more than a quarter of participants reported at least one medication cost concern, which was associated with worse patient-reported outcomes. These results reveal a potentially modifiable risk factor for poor outcomes rooted in the unaffordability of lupus care.

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June 2023

Clinical and biomarker responses to BI 655064, an antagonistic anti-CD40 antibody, in patients with active lupus nephritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial

Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023;75(11):1983–93 doi: 10.1002/art.42557.

This phase II study of BI 655064 in patients with active LN did not meet the primary endpoint of CRR at Week 52, however, post-hoc analyses suggest a potential benefit of BI 655064 180 mg in patients with active LN.

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