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Belimumab: targeted therapy for lupus
Author(s) -
Chugh Preeta K.,
Kalra Bhupinder S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.12002
Subject(s) - belimumab , medicine , immunology , clinical trial , systemic lupus erythematosus , disease , placebo , intensive care medicine , b cell activating factor , alternative medicine , pathology , b cell , antibody
Systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ), a complex autoimmune disease with multisystem involvement, is characterised by recurring flares and remissions throughout the course of illness. The agents currently being used for management include corticosteroids, antimalarials and various immunosuppressants. Belimumab, a B lymphocyte stimulator ( BL y S ) inhibitor has been recently approved for the treatment of SLE . This review aims to discuss the role of belimumab in the treatment of SLE and the trials leading to its FDA approval. Belimumab demonstrated high degree of activity in patients with autoantibody‐positive active SLE disease on a stable treatment regimen. There was a significantly greater response compared to placebo as assessed with the SLE R esponder I ndex ( SRI ) in two randomized, double‐blind, phase III trials ( BLISS ‐52 and BLISS ‐76). The treatment was well tolerated. Additional studies are required to evaluate belimumab in special populations and assess its long‐term safety. This therapy could change the focus of management from symptomatic treatment to targeting an important step in the disease pathogenesis. It could enable development of treatment which could halt long‐term progression, minimize target organ damage and thus provide a better quality of life for these patients.