title: Lupus: novel therapies in clinical development.
abstract: There have been significant advancements in understanding the immunopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. However, the developments in therapeutics have been rather slow. Belimumab, a B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) inhibitor has been approved for the treatment of this disease after more than 50 years. Numerous biological agents are being developed which target the B cells, T cells, and various cytokines. Among anti-B cell therapy, drugs target CD20+ cells (ocrelizumab, SBI-087), CD22+ cells (epratuzumab) \or the receptors of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily (atacicept, LY2127399, A-623). Monoclonal antibodies targeting interferon alpha (IFN-α) and gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukins (IL-6, 10) are being investigated for SLE. Novel targets include toll like receptors, phosphodiesterases, CD40 ligand and retinoid receptors. This review discusses various drugs which are in different phases of clinical trials and hold promise for patients suffering from this chronic debilitating disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110002, India. docpreeta@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Preeta Kaur
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chugh
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000639:trends; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents