03-05-2018 | Systemic lupus erythematosus | Review | Article
New Trials in Lupus and where Are we Going
Journal: Current Rheumatology Reports
Authors: Aikaterini Thanou, Joan T. Merrill
Publisher: Springer US
Abstract
Purpose of Review
To review progress in the field of clinical trials for SLE.
Recent Findings
Treatment development for SLE has been marked by failures of many later phase studies, representing billions of dollars of lost research and development funding. Recently, more successful Phase II trials have tested reductions in background medications, novel stringent endpoints, and identification of informative immunologic subsets to achieve greater treatment effects. A large number of agents with promising novel biologic mechanisms have continued to enter clinical development, and momentum is building to capitalize on newer strategies for trial designs.
Summary
Widespread SLE drug development is proceeding despite setbacks and controversies. Approaches focusing on patients with high disease activity, reduction of background polypharmacy, or increased endpoint stringency provide strategies that might improve interpretation of trial results. Pharmacodynamics of immune-modulation is a field in its infancy, but ripe for development.