title: New biologic therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogenous multi-systemic autoimmune disease that is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Rituximab is one of the earliest biologic therapies used in SLE. It performed well in off-label studies but failed to demonstrate efficacy in randomised controlled trials. Abatacept is a biologic developed for inflammatory arthritis but has shown promise in SLE. Belimumab is the first biologically approved therapy in fifty years for treatment of SLE. The development of biological therapies for SLE parallels the increasing understanding of the immunopathogenesis of SLE and looks promising. New drugs in development are those targeting the co-stimulatory modulation, cytokines and the B and T cells. Of interest are epratuzumab, the interferon antagonists and peptide-based therapies.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Research Group, School of Immunity and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, The Medical School, Vincent Drive, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors.forename: Hui Jen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001691:Biological Therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents