Premium
Belimumab: A BLyS‐Specific Inhibitor for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Author(s) -
Dennis G J
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.2011.290
Subject(s) - belimumab , b cell activating factor , medicine , clinical trial , immunology , placebo , systemic lupus erythematosus , lupus erythematosus , pharmacology , disease , antibody , b cell , pathology , alternative medicine
Belimumab (Benlysta), which recently received marketing approval, is the first of a new class of immunomodulators with a novel mechanism of action. It is a specific inhibitor of the soluble B‐lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) cytokine, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Two large phase III randomized controlled clinical trials evaluated the safety and efficacy of belimumab combined with standard therapy and showed that the efficacy of this treatment was significantly superior to placebo plus standard therapy. Belimumab is an evidence‐based therapeutic option for patients with general lupus disease activity and may signal a shift in the existing treatment paradigm from therapeutic selection targeting specific organ involvement to an approach directed at tackling multisystem disease activity and preventing the disease from worsening. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2012); 91 1, 143–149. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2011.290