Publications
Find coverage of the latest original articles on Lupus, focusing on those with data on therapeutic interventions and those that have clinical impact.
This activity is supported by an educational grant from AstraZeneca.
Repeat Kidney Biopsy Findings of Lupus Nephritis Patients in Clinical Remission Treated with Mycophenolate Associated with Belimumab or Mycophenolate Plus Standard of Care Therapy. A “Post-hoc" Analysis of Participants in the BLISS-LN and Open Label Extension Study Belonging to a Single Center
doi: 10.1177/09612033231204070 Epub ahead of print
Single-centre study concludes that adding belimumab to the standard of care treatment with mycophenolate (MMF) increases the possibility of achieving a complete clinical response (CCR), complete histological response (CHR), and a lower rate of relapses during treatment and long follow-up.
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 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.
Early Infection Risk in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treated with Rituximab or Belimumab from the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group Biologics Register (BILAG-BR): A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Lancet Rheumatol 2023;5:e284–92 doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00091-7
Data from a large prospective registry (BILAG-BR) highlight that, compared with standard of care, the serious infection risk was similar between rituximab and belimumab.
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Belimumab and antimalarials combined against renal flares in patients treated for extra-renal systemic lupus erythematosus: results from 4 phase III clinical trials
doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead253 Epub ahead of print
The protection conferred from belimumab against renal flare development in patients treated for extra-renal SLE appears enhanced when administered along with antimalarials (AMA).
Belimumab Versus Anifrolumab in Adults with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Indirect Comparison of Clinical Response at 52 Weeks
Lupus Sci. Med 2023;10:e000907 doi 10.1136/lupus-2023-000907
This retrospective study by Neupane, et al. compared belimumab and anifrolumab efficacy at 52 weeks in SLE patients. It concluded that belimumab and anifrolumab have equal efficacy, but further studies would be needed for specific patient demographics.
New Biologics and Targeted Therapies in Systemic Lupus: From New Molecular Targets to New Indications. A Systematic Review
Joint Bone Spine. 2023.
Systematic review of new biologics and targeted therapies in systemic lupus identifies a highly diversified pipeline of investigational drugs that will hopefully enable a more optimal treat-to-target strategy.
Safety and Efficacy of Belimumab in Patients with Lupus Nephritis
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2022;17:1620–1630 doi: 10.2215/CJN.02520322
This 28-week, open-label extension of BLISS-LN found no new safety signals and maintained efficacy with belimumab, in patients with lupus nephritis.
Belimumab Use During Pregnancy: Interim Results of the Belimumab Pregnancy Registry
Birth Defects Res. 2022. Epub ahead of print doi: 10.1002/bdr2.2091
There was no pattern or common mechanism of birth defects associated with belimumab within the Belimumab Pregnancy Registry (BPR) data.
Effect and safety profile of belimumab and tacrolimus combination therapy in thirty‑three patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Clin Rheumatol. 2022. Epub ahead of print doi: 10.1007/s10067-022-06325-6
A single-centre analysis of patients with SLE administered tacrolimus and belimumab shows this combination therapy to be well-tolerated, with a good efficacy profile and glucocorticoid-reducing effect.
Indirect treatment comparison of anifrolumab efficacy versus belimumab in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus
J Comp Eff Res. 2022;11(10):765–777 doi: 10.2217/cer-2022-0040
Population-adjusted comparative study provides insights for decision makers and clinicians about the comparative efficacy of anifrolumab and belimumab in patients with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are receiving standard therapy.
In the absence of head-to-head comparisons, Bruce, et al. assessed the comparative efficacy of the two biological therapies currently approved in the EU and USA for the treatment of moderate-to-severe SLE (anifrolumab 300 mg and belimumab 10 mg/kg).
After adjusting for important cross-trial differences, their results showed that anifrolumab was associated with significantly greater treatment benefits than belimumab.