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Schultze M, Garal-Pantaler E, Pignot M, Levy RA, Carnarius H, Schneider M, Gairy K. Clinical and economic burden of organ damage among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in a real-world setting in Germany. BMC Rheumatol 2024; 8:18. [PMID: 38755673 PMCID: PMC11100138 DOI: 10.1186/s41927-024-00387-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease, carries high risk of organ damage and burden to healthcare systems. SLE disease modification aims to reduce disease activity with minimal treatment toxicity and preventing or minimizing organ damage development. This real-world study utilizing healthcare administrative claims data assessed organ damage development, associated costs and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in patients with SLE in Germany. METHODS Claims data from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017, were obtained from the Betriebskrankenkassen German Sickness Fund Database. Adults (> 18 years) with a confirmed SLE diagnosis between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014, (inclusion period) were included. The index date was calculated based on the first recorded SLE diagnosis during this period. Patients were propensity score-matched (1:3) to a comparator cohort without SLE by age, sex, and comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity index). Organ damage was identified using an algorithm developed based on conditions described in the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI), using ICD-10-GM diagnostic codes, healthcare procedures, and/or treatments. RESULTS 2121 patients with SLE and 6308 comparator patients were included (mean follow-up time: 6.4 years). Organ damage prevalence increased from 60.5% at baseline to 83.0% during 6 years of follow-up in all patients with SLE, while 17.0% of patients with SLE did not develop organ damage. Patients with newly confirmed SLE diagnosis without organ damage at baseline were nearly twice as likely to develop organ damage within 5 years versus the comparator cohort (52.0% vs. 27.0%). Total annual costs per patient-year for patients with SLE with organ damage were more than double those of patients with SLE without organ damage; both the number of inpatient admissions and length of stay were higher. CONCLUSIONS The application of a recently developed algorithm allowed us to use claims data to elucidate SLE organ damage, and its associated high clinical and economic burden, in a large, representative sample in Germany. To our knowledge, this is the first European analysis of its kind involving a broad cohort of patients with SLE treated in the routine care setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Schultze
- Berlin Center for Epidemiology and Health Research, ZEG Berlin GmbH, Invalidenstr. 115, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elena Garal-Pantaler
- Health Care Research and Health Economics (Versorgungsforschung und Gesundheitsökonomie), Team Gesundheit GmbH, Rellinghauser Straße 93, 45128, Essen, Germany
| | - Marc Pignot
- Berlin Center for Epidemiology and Health Research, ZEG Berlin GmbH, Invalidenstr. 115, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roger A Levy
- Global Medical Affairs, GSK, 1250 S Collegeville Rd, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Heike Carnarius
- Specialty Care Medical Affairs, GSK GmbH & Co. KG, Heidenkampsweg 51, 20097, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Matthias Schneider
- Policlinic and Hiller Research Unit for Rheumatology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstr 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kerry Gairy
- GSK, Value Evidence and Outcomes, 980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS, UK
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Yamane T, Hashiramoto A. Initiation of belimumab with higher daily prednisolone is effective for rapid glucocorticoid reduction: A 96-week retrospective study. Lupus 2024; 33:598-607. [PMID: 38509864 DOI: 10.1177/09612033241240859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES For appropriate glucocorticoid (GC) reduction, we investigated the optimal strategy including baseline factors that could reduce GC more than 50% with 96 weeks of belimumab. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of Kakogawa Central City hospital from 2019 to 2023. We identified SLE patients who were receiving 200 mg of belimumab weekly by subcutaneous injection for 96 weeks. The background at baseline, trends in clinical indicators, and factors involved in GC reduction were statistically analyzed. Finally, univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were carried out to identify baseline factors associated ≥50% GC reduction at 96 weeks. RESULTS Forty-seven patients were enrolled, with a median daily prednisolone of 5 mg. Almost 90% of them received concomitant immunosuppressants and/or hydroxychloroquine. Serological indices, daily GC dose, and SLEDAI-2K scores showed significant improvement in 96 weeks. At baseline, a significant negative correlation has been shown between the daily dose of GC and the duration from onset or last flare, as well as C4 levels. At 96 weeks, GC reduction rate and SLEDAI-2K scores were negatively correlated with duration from onset or last flare to initiation of belimumab. Mycophenolate mofetil use was significantly frequent in patients with lupus nephritis (LN), which also correlated with the frequency of past flares. In addition, LN presence was associated with higher SLEDAI-2K scores at 96 weeks, and baseline SLEDAI-2K ≥10 was associated with significantly higher GC dose at 96 weeks. Univariate analysis of the factor contributing to achieving ≥50% GC reduction at 96 weeks has pointed shorter disease duration and higher daily GC dose at baseline as significant variables. Finally, we performed a multivariate analysis by combining above two items with age, which extracted the higher daily GC dose at baseline as a significant variable (OR (95% CI) 1.25 (1.00 to 1.56), p = .047). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that a delay in belimumab initiation led to higher SLEDAI-2K score and difficulty in achieving a 50% GC reduction at 96 weeks. Since GC-related adverse events increase with long-term administration of GC though with small daily doses, we proposed here that belimumab should be started in combination with higher daily prednisolone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yamane
- Department of Rheumatology, Kakogawa Central City Hospital, Kakogawa, Japan
| | - Akira Hashiramoto
- Department of Biophysics, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Japan
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Ramnarain A, Liam C, Milea D, Morand E, Kent J, Kandane-Rathnayake R. Predictors of Organ Damage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the Asia Pacific Region: A Systematic Review. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2024; 76:720-732. [PMID: 38191962 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Irreversible organ damage is common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Despite evidence of increased prevalence and severity of SLE in Asia Pacific, organ damage is less well studied in this region. This systematic review aims to identify predictors of organ damage in SLE in the Asia Pacific region. METHODS We searched Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for observational studies on organ damage in adult patients with SLE in Asia Pacific from August 31, to September 5, 2022. Study selection and data extraction were completed by two independent reviewers using Covidence systematic review software. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Significant results from univariable and multivariable analyses were synthesized from included studies. RESULTS Thirty-eight eligible studies were selected from 1999 to 2022; 22 (58%) of these reported organ damage at study enrollment and 19 (50%) reported damage accrual, as measured by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinic/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index. Factors predictive of organ damage included older age, glucocorticoid use, longer disease duration, and disease activity. Lupus nephritis was a risk factor for renal and overall damage accrual. Hydroxychloroquine was protective against overall organ damage. CONCLUSION Predictors of organ damage in SLE in Asia Pacific are similar to other regions. Although glucocorticoid use is a modifiable risk factor for organ damage, the impact of immunosuppressives and biologic therapies needs further investigation. Effective strategies in early disease are needed to minimize initial organ damage as it predicts subsequent damage accrual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arushi Ramnarain
- Monash University and Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Eric Morand
- Monash University and Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joanna Kent
- Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Capdevila O, Mitjavila F, Espinosa G, Caminal-Montero L, Marín-Ballvè A, González León R, Castro A, Canora J, Pinilla B, Fonseca E, Ruiz-Irastorza G. Predictive Factors of the Use of Rituximab and Belimumab in Spanish Lupus Patients. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1362. [PMID: 37629652 PMCID: PMC10456702 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59081362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: To analyze the characteristics and the predictive factors of the use of rituximab and belimumab in daily practice in patients from the inception cohort Registro Español de Lupus (RELES). Material and methods: The study included 518 patients. We considered patients treated with biologics who received at least one dose of rituximab or belimumab, and possible indications of those manifestations registered at the same time or in the previous 2 months of the start of the therapy. Results: In our cohort, 37 (7%) patients received at least one biological treatment. Rituximab was prescribed in 26 patients and belimumab in 11. Rituximab was mainly prescribed for hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia (11 patients, 42%), lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric lupus (5 patients each, 19%). Belimumab was mostly used for arthritis (8 patients, 73%). In the univariate analysis, the predictive factors at diagnosis for the use of biologic therapy were younger age (p = 0.022), a higher SLEDAI (p = 0.001) and the presence of psychosis (p = 0.011), organic mental syndrome (SOCA) (p = 0.006), hemolytic anemia (p = 0.001), or thrombocytopenia (p = 0.01). In the multivariant model, only younger age, psychosis, and hemolytic anemia were independent predictors of the use of biologics. Conclusions: Rituximab is usually given to patients with hematological, neuropsychiatric and renal involvement and belimumab for arthritis. Psychosis, hemolytic anemia and age at the diagnosis of lupus were independent predictive factors of the use of biological agents. Their global effects are beneficial, with a significant reduction in SLE activity and a low rate of side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. Capdevila
- Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - F. Mitjavila
- Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain;
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - G. Espinosa
- Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clinic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - L. Caminal-Montero
- Group of Basic and Translational Research in Inflammatory Diseases, Departament of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain;
| | - A. Marín-Ballvè
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - R. González León
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain;
| | - A. Castro
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, 43204 Reus, Spain
| | - J. Canora
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, 28942 Madrid, Spain
| | - B. Pinilla
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain;
| | - E. Fonseca
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Cabueñes, 33394 Gijón, Spain;
| | - G. Ruiz-Irastorza
- Autoimmune Diseases Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Cruces, UPV/EHU, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
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Abid N, Manaye S, Naushad H, Cheran K, Murthy C, Bornemann EA, Kamma HK, Alabbas M, Elashahab M. The Safety and Efficacy of Rituximab and Belimumab in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e40719. [PMID: 37485087 PMCID: PMC10360028 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a vital role of B cells in the pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Belimumab (Bel), an inhibitor of B cell activating factor (BAFF), and Rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody targeting Cd20 antigen, have been used to manage systemic lupus. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated these two agents' clinical efficacy and safety in different manifestations of SLE. This study aims to review the randomized control trials involving these two agents systematically and to explain if any disparity is noticed in the primary and secondary outcomes between these two agents. This study is done according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. After applying the inclusion criteria and quality assessment by independent reviewers and co-authors, relevant papers were identified, and data were extracted. The results have shown that RCTs involving Belimumab achieved primary endpoints; however, targeted endpoints were not achieved in studies involving Rituximab. It is concluded that despite the conflicting results obtained in clinical trials, both are effective in systemic lupus, as indicated in real-world clinical experience. However, better-designed multicenter studies evaluating these B-cell-targeting drugs are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naushad Abid
- Internal Medicine, King Faisal University College of Medicine, Al-Ahsa, SAU
- Internal Medicine / Rheumatology, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, SAU
| | - Sara Manaye
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Hamzah Naushad
- Medicine and Surgery, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PAK
| | - Kaaviya Cheran
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Chinmayee Murthy
- Internal Medicine, Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bidar, IND
| | - Elisa A Bornemann
- Medicine and Surgery, Universidad Latina de Panama, Panama City, PAN
| | - Hari Krishna Kamma
- Psychiatry, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Mohammad Alabbas
- Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, HUN
| | - Mohammed Elashahab
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
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Tanaka Y, Curtis P, DeRose K, Kurrasch R, Kinoshita K, Tanaka R, Yamazaki Y, Roth DA. Long-term safety and efficacy of belimumab in Japanese patients with SLE: A 7-year open-label continuation study. Mod Rheumatol 2023; 33:122-133. [PMID: 34915574 DOI: 10.1093/mr/roab125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Evaluate long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of belimumab in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS This was a subgroup analysis of Japanese patients who completed studies BEL113750 or BEL112341 and were enrolled in a Phase 3, open-label extension study (BEL114333; NCT01597622). Eligible patients received intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg every 28 days for ≤7 years. Primary endpoint: safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints included SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 response rate, SRI-4 components, severe SLE flare, and use of corticosteroids/other SLE-related treatments. Analyses were based on observed data from first belimumab dose received in either parent or current study through to study end. RESULTS Of 71 Japanese patients enrolled, 69.0% completed the study. Overall, 98.6% patients had adverse events (AEs); 32.4% had serious AEs. The proportion of SRI-4 responders increased progressively (Year 1, Week 24: 40.9% [27/66]; Year 7, Week 48: 84.6% [11/13]) as did the proportion of Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-SLE Disease Activity Index responders. The proportion of patients with no worsening in PGA (91.2-100.0%) and no new organ damage (92.6-100.0%) remained stable over time. Severe SLE flare was experienced by 11.3% (8/71) of patients. Corticosteroid and immunosuppressant use decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS Favourable safety profile and treatment responses with belimumab were maintained for ≤7 years in Japanese patients with SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiya Tanaka
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Paula Curtis
- R&D Biostatics, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, Middlesex, UK
| | - Kathleen DeRose
- R&D Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Regina Kurrasch
- R&D Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Kyoko Kinoshita
- Speciality Medical and Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rika Tanaka
- Speciality Medical and Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - David A Roth
- R&D Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
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Marinho A, Delgado Alves J, Fortuna J, Faria R, Almeida I, Alves G, Araújo Correia J, Campar A, Brandão M, Crespo J, Marado D, Matos-Costa J, Oliveira S, Salvador F, Santos L, Silva F, Fernandes M, Vasconcelos C. Biological therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, and Sjögren's syndrome: evidence- and practice-based guidance. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1117699. [PMID: 37138867 PMCID: PMC10150407 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1117699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are heterogeneous autoimmune diseases. Severe manifestations and refractory/intolerance to conventional immunosuppressants demand other options, namely biological drugs, and small molecules. We aimed to define evidence and practice-based guidance for the off-label use of biologics in SLE, APS, and SS. Recommendations were made by an independent expert panel, following a comprehensive literature review and two consensus rounds. The panel included 17 internal medicine experts with recognized practice in autoimmune disease management. The literature review was systematic from 2014 until 2019 and later updated by cross-reference checking and experts' input until 2021. Preliminary recommendations were drafted by working groups for each disease. A revision meeting with all experts anticipated the consensus meeting held in June 2021. All experts voted (agree, disagree, neither agree nor disagree) during two rounds, and recommendations with at least 75% agreement were approved. A total of 32 final recommendations (20 for SLE treatment, 5 for APS, and 7 for SS) were approved by the experts. These recommendations consider organ involvement, manifestations, severity, and response to previous treatments. In these three autoimmune diseases, most recommendations refer to rituximab, which aligns with the higher number of studies and clinical experience with this biological agent. Belimumab sequential treatment after rituximab may also be used in severe cases of SLE and SS. Second-line therapy with baricitinib, bortezomib, eculizumab, secukinumab, or tocilizumab can be considered in SLE-specific manifestations. These evidence and practice-based recommendations may support treatment decision and, ultimately, improve the outcome of patients living with SLE, APS, or SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- António Marinho
- Unidade de Imunologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UMIB - Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: António Marinho,
| | - José Delgado Alves
- Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca, Amadora, Portugal
- Immune Response and Vascular Disease Unit - iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jorge Fortuna
- Serviço de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Medicina, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Raquel Faria
- Unidade de Imunologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UMIB - Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Almeida
- Unidade de Imunologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UMIB - Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Glória Alves
- Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira - Centro Hospitalar Alto Ave, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João Araújo Correia
- Unidade de Imunologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UMIB - Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Serviço de Medicina Interna, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Campar
- Unidade de Imunologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UMIB - Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Brandão
- Unidade de Imunologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UMIB - Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Crespo
- Serviço de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Medicina, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniela Marado
- Serviço de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Medicina, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Matos-Costa
- Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital Distrital de Santarém, Santarém, Portugal
| | - Susana Oliveira
- Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca, Amadora, Portugal
| | - Fernando Salvador
- Unidade de Doenças Autoimunes, Serviço de Medicina Interna, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Lelita Santos
- Serviço de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Medicina, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Linha de Investigação Clínica e Interdisciplinar em Meio Ambiente, Genética e Oncobiologia (CIMAGO), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Fátima Silva
- Serviço de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Medicina, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Milene Fernandes
- Real-World Evidence & Late Phase, CTI Clinical Trial & Consulting Services Unipessoal Lda, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos Vasconcelos
- Unidade de Imunologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UMIB - Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Hunnicutt JN, Fairburn-Beech J, Georgiou ME, Richards A, Gregan YI, Quasny H, Chauhan D. Evaluating disease control following belimumab treatment in patients with SLE enrolled in the US OBSErve study. Lupus Sci Med 2022; 9:9/1/e000710. [PMID: 36450407 PMCID: PMC9716789 DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2022-000710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterise disease control and remission in patients with SLE receiving belimumab for up to 12 months in the real world. METHODS This post hoc analysis (GSK Study 213502) used data from the US evaluation Of use of Belimumab in clinical practice SEttings (OBSErve) study (GSK Study 117295), an observational cohort study of adults with SLE initiating and continuing belimumab for ≥6 months. Data were collected every 6 months by physician chart review; details of disease activity using the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-SLE Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) score were collected if routinely used by physicians. Disease control definitions evaluated were SELENA-SLEDAI score of ≤2 at 12 months, SELENA-SLEDAI score of ≤2 and glucocorticoid (prednisone equivalent) dose of ≤5 mg/day at 12 months, SELENA-SLEDAI score of ≤2 and glucocorticoid dose of ≤5 mg/day at both 6 and 12 months. Disease remission definition was SELENA-SLEDAI score=0 at 12 months. Glucocorticoid dose during follow-up was quantified. RESULTS US OBSErve enrolled 501 patients, 90 of whom had eligible SELENA-SLEDAI scores for inclusion in this analysis. Mean (SD) SELENA-SLEDAI scores were 13.1 (3.0) at baseline and 4.9 (3.4) at 12 months. Disease control at 12 months was achieved by 31.1% of patients when defined as a SELENA-SLEDAI score of ≤2 (95% CI 21.8 to 41.7); this decreased to 25.6% when requiring a SELENA-SLEDAI score of ≤2 and glucocorticoid dose of ≤5 mg/day (95% CI 16.9 to 35.8) and 17.8% when requiring a SELENA-SLEDAI score of ≤2 and glucocorticoid dose of ≤5 mg/day at both 6 and 12 months (95% CI 10.5 to 27.3). No patient achieved remission at 12 months. Glucocorticoids decreased from a baseline median of 20.0 mg/day (IQR 15.0-30.0) to 5.0 mg/day (IQR 0-10.0) at 12 months. CONCLUSION Improved disease control and reduced glucocorticoid use was achieved for a proportion of patients following up to 12 months of belimumab treatment in a US real-world setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yun Irene Gregan
- Clinical Science Immunology, GSK, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Holly Quasny
- Research and Development, GSK, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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9
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Urowitz MB, Aranow C, Asukai Y, Bass DL, Bruce IN, Chauhan D, Dall'Era M, Furie R, Fox NL, Gilbride JA, Hammer A, Ginzler EM, Gonzalez‐Rivera T, Levy RA, Merrill JT, Quasny H, Roth DA, Stohl W, van Vollenhoven R, Wallace DJ, Petri M. Impact of Belimumab on Organ Damage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2022; 74:1822-1828. [PMID: 35439360 PMCID: PMC9805003 DOI: 10.1002/acr.24901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Organ damage is a key determinant of poor long-term prognosis and early death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Prevention of damage is a key treatment goal of the 2019 update of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for SLE management. Belimumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and is the only therapy approved for both SLE and lupus nephritis. Here, we review the clinical trial and real-world data on the effects of belimumab on organ damage in adult patients with SLE. Across 4 phase III studies, belimumab in combination with background SLE therapy demonstrated consistent reductions in key drivers of organ damage including disease activity, risk of new severe flares, and glucocorticoid exposure compared to background therapy alone. Long-term belimumab use in SLE also reduced organ damage progression measured by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index, as reported in open-label extension studies, and propensity score-matched comparative analyses to background therapy alone. Results from a clinical trial showed that in patients with active lupus nephritis, belimumab treatment improved renal response, reduced the risk of renal-related events, and impacted features related to kidney damage progression compared to background therapy alone. The decrease of organ damage accumulation observed with belimumab treatment in SLE, including lupus nephritis, suggest a disease-modifying effect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cynthia Aranow
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical ResearchManhassetNew York
| | | | | | - Ian N. Bruce
- The University of Manchester and NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchesterUK
| | | | - Maria Dall'Era
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | | | - Ellen M. Ginzler
- State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences UniversityBrooklynNew York
| | | | | | | | | | | | - William Stohl
- University of Southern California Keck School of MedicineLos Angeles
| | - Ronald van Vollenhoven
- Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, VU University Medical CenterAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Daniel J. Wallace
- Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, and University of CaliforniaLos Angeles
| | - Michelle Petri
- Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMaryland
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10
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Perl A, Agmon-Levin N, Crispín JC, Jorgensen TN. Editorial: New biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1009038. [PMID: 36311710 PMCID: PMC9599399 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1009038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andras Perl
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Andras Perl,
| | - Nancy Agmon-Levin
- The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - José C. Crispín
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico,Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Trine N. Jorgensen
- Department of Inflammation & Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
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11
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Zhang C, Zeng M, Ge Y, Liu K, Xing C, Mao H. Effectiveness and safety of Belimumab combined with standard therapy in severe active lupus nephritis requiring kidney replacement therapy: A case report and literature review. Front Immunol 2022; 13:977377. [PMID: 36172377 PMCID: PMC9511409 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.977377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lupus Nephritis (LN) is the most common manifestation of severe organ damage for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Severe active LN could result in acute kidney injury (AKI), which could even require Kidney Replacement Therapy (KRT). Therefore, there needs to be a more proactive and safe induction therapy to quickly and effectively control renal immune inflammation, maintain kidney function or reverse kidney damage. While multiple clinical studies have proven the efficacy and safety of Belimumab in treating SLE and LN, these studies have not included cases of severe LN requiring KRT. We observed the effectiveness and safety of Belimumab in treating four severe active LN patients undergoing KRT. With Belimumab administered at a dosage of 10mg/kg, all four patients were able to discontinue KRT with no adverse events (AEs) to date ultimately. These cases provided an excellent basis for the application of Belimumab combined with standard therapy to LN patients with a medium to severe kidney injury.
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12
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Rua-Figueroa Fernández de Larrinoa Í, Lozano MJC, Fernández-Cid CM, Cobo T, Salman Monte TC, Freire González M, Hidalgo Bermejo FJ, Román Gutiérrez CS, Cortés-Hernández J. Preventing organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus: the impact of early biological treatment. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2022; 22:821-829. [PMID: 35815355 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2096406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION One of the most important aims in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is to avoid or delay the accumulation of organ damage. The first five years after diagnosis are crucial for prognosis. AREAS COVERED This manuscript reviews available data on organ damage accrual in SLE and early therapeutic intervention as a possible strategy to prevent its long-term accrual. EXPERT OPINION Organ damage can be minimized by controlling disease activity and risk of flares, reducing the dose of glucocorticoids, and ensuring a proper therapeutic intervention with an early introduction of the right therapies. The current standard treatment cannot provide clinical remission in all patients with SLE. Therefore, there is a clinical need for introducing new therapeutic strategies able to achieve the main therapeutic objectives. The addition of biologic and other therapeutic agents to the standard of care is effective for controlling disease activity and for preventing severe flares, enabling a reduced use of glucocorticoids, and presumably reducing organ damage progression. Considering its efficacy and safety, early inclusion of biologic agents in the first lines of the treatment algorithm, at least in certain patients, could be considered as an innovative treatment approach to decrease disease burden in SLE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tatiana Cobo
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Tarek C Salman Monte
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain
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13
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Joy A, Muralidharan A, Alfaraj M, Shantharam D, Cherukuri ASS, Muthukumar A. The Role of Belimumab in Systemic Lupus Erythematosis: A Systematic Review. Cureus 2022; 14:e25887. [PMID: 35844357 PMCID: PMC9277571 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease involving multiple systems with a range of clinical presentations caused by the production of antibodies, activation of complements, and deposition of immune complexes. The exact cause of SLE is still unknown. The effectiveness of traditional treatment methods for SLE is very little. Nowadays, resistance to conventional therapy, steroids, and immunosuppressants is common among SLE patients. Patients with refractory disease and nephritis generally have severe drug-induced toxicity which contributes to organ dysfunction, despite available therapies. Different biologic agents and therapeutic antibodies have become an alternative and have been under experiment in clinical trials, enrolling patients whose disease is inadequately controlled by conventional treatment. Belimumab is the only targeted therapy approved for SLE treatment. This systematic review discusses one such biological agent for treating systemic lupus erythematosus, namely, belimumab. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) from 2005 to 2021 on adult SLE. patients treated with monoclonal antibodies to assess the efficacy and safety. Methodological quality was assessed using PubMed, PMC, the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and the QUality In Prognosis Studies Tool (QUIPS) for RCTs. Two independent reviewers performed an electronic search on MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, SCIELO, Scopus, and ResearchGate. Based on a systematic review of articles we found that belimumab appears to be efficacious and generally well-tolerated in the treatment of SLE as compared to other drugs. The long-term use of belimumab combined with standard therapy showed a low incidence of organ damage. A lower incidence of organ damage was seen after initiating treatment in patients with a high risk for organ dysfunction. Patients who test for antinuclear antibody or anti-dsDNA-positive SLE, with moderate symptoms in the skin and musculoskeletal systems despite immunosuppressants, are treated with belimumab as an adjunct therapy. Patients with severe lupus nephritis or active CNS lupus cannot be treated with belimumab. Belimumab is effective in most races, as a clinical trial done in North-East Asia showed improvement in SLE symptoms and decreased dependence on prednisone. Belimumab also decreased disease activity and severe flares. Belimumab had greater efficacy in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashna Joy
- Internal Medicine, AP Varkey Mission Hospital, Ernakulam, IND
| | | | - Marwa Alfaraj
- Internal Medicine, LaSante Health Center, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Arun Muthukumar
- Anaesthesiology, Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital (CNMCH), Kolkata, IND
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14
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Plüß M, Piantoni S, Tampe B, Kim AHJ, Korsten P. Belimumab for systemic lupus erythematosus - Focus on lupus nephritis. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2072143. [PMID: 35588699 PMCID: PMC9359396 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2072143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, advances in the treatment and management of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have improved their life expectancy and quality of life. However, lupus nephritis (LN) still represents a major life-threatening complication of the disease. Belimumab (BEL), a fully human monoclonal IgG1λ antibody neutralizing soluble B cell activating factor, was approved more than ten years ago as add-on therapy in adults and pediatric patients with a highly active, autoantibody-positive disease despite standard of care (SoC). Recently, the superiority of the addition of BEL to SoC was also demonstrated in LN. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the study landscape, available therapeutic options for SLE (focusing on BEL in renal and non-renal SLE), and new perspectives in the treatment field of this disease. A personalized treatment approach will likely become available with the advent of novel therapeutic agents for SLE and LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Plüß
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Silvia Piantoni
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Björn Tampe
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alfred H J Kim
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.,Division of Immunobiology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.,Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center of Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Peter Korsten
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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15
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Zhang F, Zheng J, Li Y, Wang G, Wang M, Su Y, Gu J, Li X, Bass D, Chu M, Curtis P, DeRose K, Kurrasch R, Lowe J, Meizlik P, Roth DA. Phase 3, long-term, open-label extension period of safety and efficacy of belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in China, for up to 6 years. RMD Open 2022; 8:rmdopen-2021-001669. [PMID: 35428697 PMCID: PMC9014060 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in China. Methods In this phase 3, open-label extension period, eligible completers of study BEL113750 (NCT01345253) received intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg monthly for ≤6 years. The primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints included the SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 response rate, severe SLE flares and changes in prednisone use. Analyses were based on observed data from the first dose of belimumab through to study end. Results Of the 424 patients who received belimumab, 215 (50.7%) completed the study, 208 (49.1%) withdrew and 1 patient died. Overall, 359/424 (84.7%) patients had adverse events (AEs), and 96/424 (22.6%) had serious AEs. 26/424 (6.1%) patients discontinued study treatment/withdrew from the study due to AEs. Postinfusion systemic reaction rate was 1.5 events/100 patient-years. Herpes zoster infection rate was 3.0 events/100 patient-years, of which 0.4 events/100 patient-years were serious events. One papillary thyroid cancer and one vaginal cancer were reported in year 0–1 and year 3–4, respectively. There were no completed suicides/suicide attempts and no reports of serious depression. The proportion of SRI-4 responders increased progressively (year 1, week 24: 190/346 (54.9%); year 5, week 48: 66/82 (80.5%)). Severe flares were experienced by 55/396 (13.9%) patients. For 335 patients with baseline prednisone-equivalent dose >7.5 mg/day, the number of patients with a dose reduction to ≤7.5 mg/day increased over time (year 1, week 24: 30/333 (9.0%); year 5, week 48: 36/67 (53.7%)). Conclusions Favourable safety profile and disease control appeared to be maintained in patients with SLE in China for ≤6 years, consistent with previous belimumab studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengchun Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Dermatology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Rheumatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Nangang District, Harbin, China
| | - Guochun Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mingjun Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yin Su
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jieruo Gu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xingfu Li
- Department of Rheumatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Damon Bass
- Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Myron Chu
- Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Paula Curtis
- Biostatistics, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, Middlesex, UK
| | - Kathleen DeRose
- Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Regina Kurrasch
- Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jenny Lowe
- Immunoinflammation and Fibrosis, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, Middlesex, UK
| | - Paige Meizlik
- Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David A Roth
- Immunoinflammation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
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16
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Bell CF, Ajmera MR, Meyers J. An evaluation of costs associated with overall organ damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in the United States. Lupus 2022; 31:202-211. [PMID: 35060407 PMCID: PMC8988287 DOI: 10.1177/09612033211073670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Approximately 33-50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop organ damage within 5 years of diagnosis. Real-world studies that capture the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs associated with SLE-related organ damage are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate HCRU and costs associated with organ damage in patients with SLE in the USA. METHODS This retrospective study (GSK study 208380) used the PharMetrics Plus administrative claims database from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2019. Patients with SLE and organ damage were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9/10 codes derived from the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index. The first observed diagnosis of organ damage was designated as the index date. Selection criteria included: ≥18 years of age; ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient claims for SLE (≥30 days apart before the index date; ICD-9: 710.0 or ICD-10: M32, excluding M32.0); ≥1 inpatient or ≥3 outpatient claims for organ damage within 6 months for the same organ system code; continuous enrollment of 12 months both pre- and post-index date. The proportion of patients with new organ damage, disease severity, SLE flares, SLE-related medication patterns, HCRU and all-cause costs (2018 US$) were assessed 12 months pre- and post-index date. RESULTS Of the 360,803 patients with a diagnosis of SLE, 8952 patients met the inclusion criteria for the presence of new organ damage. Mean (standard deviation (SD)) age was 46.4 (12.2) years and 92% of patients were female. The most common sites of organ damage were neuropsychiatric (22.0%), ocular (12.9%), and cardiovascular (11.4%). Disease severity and proportion of moderate/severe flare episodes significantly increased from pre- to post-index date (p < 0.0001). Overall, SLE-related medication patterns were similar pre- versus post-index date. Inpatient, emergency department and outpatient claims increased from pre- to post-index date and mean (SD) all-cause costs were 71% higher post- versus pre-index date ($26,998 [57,982] vs $15,746 [29,637], respectively). CONCLUSIONS The economic impact associated with organ damage in patients with SLE is profound and reducing or preventing organ damage will be pivotal in alleviating the burden for patients and healthcare providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher F Bell
- US Value Evidence and Outcomes, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Mayank R Ajmera
- 549595Health Economics, RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Juliana Meyers
- 549595Health Economics, RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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17
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Miyazaki Y, Nakayamada S, Sonomoto K, Akio K, Inoue Y, Okubo N, Iwata S, Hanami K, Tanaka Y. Efficacy and safety of belimumab during maintenance therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 61:3614-3626. [PMID: 34962998 PMCID: PMC9434316 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The efficacy of belimumab (BEL) during maintenance therapy in patients with SLE remains unclear in the real-life clinical setting. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of BEL in patients with SLE during maintenance therapy. Methods In this retrospective observational study, maintenance therapy was defined as low-dose glucocorticoid (GC) therapy (prednisolone equivalent dose of ≤0.2 mg/kg/day) in patients with a Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-SLE Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) score <10. Participants comprised patients with SLE on HCQ or MMF [standard-of-care (SoC) group: n = 103] and those on BEL plus SoC (BEL+SoC group: n = 100). Selection bias was minimized using propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). GC dose trajectories were modelled using growth mixture modelling (GMM). The primary end point was GC dose at 52 weeks. Results No significant difference was observed in patient characteristics between the two groups after IPTW adjustment. The BEL+SoC group exhibited a significant decrease in GC dose. GC dose at 52 weeks and relapse rate were significantly lower in the BEL+SoC group than in the SoC group. The proportion of patients in one of four groups defined by GMM for which GC dose was tapered to 0 mg within 52 weeks (GC tapering-discontinuation group) was significantly higher in the BEL+SoC group than in the SoC group. In the BEL+SoC group, low SELENA-SLEDAI score and low GC dose at baseline were associated with being GC dose-tapering discontinuation. Conclusion The present study suggests that BEL is suitable for patients with SLE during maintenance therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Miyazaki
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Shingo Nakayamada
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Koshiro Sonomoto
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Kawabe Akio
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Yoshino Inoue
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Naoaki Okubo
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Shigeru Iwata
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Kentaro Hanami
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Yoshiya Tanaka
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
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18
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Levy RA, Gonzalez-Rivera T, Khamashta M, Fox NL, Jones-Leone A, Rubin B, Burriss SW, Gairy K, van Maurik A, Roth DA. 10 Years of belimumab experience: What have we learnt? Lupus 2021; 30:1705-1721. [PMID: 34238087 PMCID: PMC8564244 DOI: 10.1177/09612033211028653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting both adults and children. Belimumab is the only biologic approved for SLE, and the first in a class of drugs known as B-lymphocyte stimulator-specific inhibitors. The introduction of intravenous belimumab in 2011 was a major advance, being the first new therapy approved for SLE in over 50 years. As of April 2021, more than 7200 people with SLE have received belimumab in clinical studies, and it is approved in over 75 countries for the treatment of adults with SLE. A subcutaneous, self-injectable belimumab formulation was licensed in 2017 by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA). Belimumab was then approved for use in children in Europe, the USA and Japan in 2019, and China and Brazil in 2020. Recently, belimumab became the first FDA-approved drug for the treatment of adults with active lupus nephritis (LN), the most-common severe manifestation of SLE.Over the past 10 years, belimumab has established its position as a disease modifier in the SLE treatment paradigms. Robust evidence from randomised clinical studies and observational, real-world studies has demonstrated the tolerability and efficacy of belimumab for reducing disease activity and the risk of new, severe SLE flares. This enables patients to taper their glucocorticoid use, which limits damage accumulation. Significantly more patients with active LN met the criteria for renal responses and were at less risk of a renal-related event or death after receiving belimumab plus standard therapy, compared with standard therapy on top of mandatory steroid reduction. Ongoing clinical studies are evaluating belimumab's effectiveness in various indications beyond SLE. Post-marketing and registry studies are gathering additional data on key areas such as pregnancy outcomes after belimumab exposure and belimumab co-administration with other biologics.
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19
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Xie JH, Zhang Y, Loubeau M, Mangan P, Heimrich E, Tovar C, Zhou X, Madia P, Doyle M, Dudhgaonkar S, Rudra A, Subramani S, Young J, Salter-Cid L, Malek TR, Struthers M. Mouse IL-2/CD25 Fusion Protein Induces Regulatory T Cell Expansion and Immune Suppression in Preclinical Models of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:34-43. [PMID: 34108258 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with an IL-2-deficient state, with regulatory T cells (Tregs) showing diminished immune regulatory capacity. A low dose of IL-2 has shown encouraging clinical benefits in SLE patients; however, its clinical utility is limited because of the requirement of daily injections and the observation of increase in proinflammatory cytokines and in non-Tregs. We recently showed that a fusion protein of mouse IL-2 and mouse IL-2Rα (CD25), joined by a noncleavable linker, was effective in treating diabetes in NOD mice by selectively inducing Treg expansion. In this report, we show that mouse IL-2 (mIL-2)/CD25 at doses up to 0.5 mg/kg twice a week induced a robust Treg expansion without showing signs of increase in the numbers of NK, CD4+Foxp3-, or CD8+ T cells or significant increase in proinflammatory cytokines. In both NZB × NZW and MRL/lpr mice, mIL-2/CD25 at 0.2-0.4 mg/kg twice a week demonstrated efficacy in inducing Treg expansion, CD25 upregulation, and inhibiting lupus nephritis based on the levels of proteinuria, autoantibody titers, and kidney histology scores. mIL-2/CD25 was effective even when treatment was initiated at the time when NZB × NZW mice already showed signs of advanced disease. Furthermore, we show coadministration of prednisolone, which SLE patients commonly take, did not interfere with the ability of mIL-2/CD25 to expand Tregs. The prednisolone and mIL-2/CD25 combination treatment results in improvements in most of the efficacy readouts relative to either monotherapy alone. Taken together, our results support further evaluation of IL-2/CD25 in the clinic for treating immune-mediated diseases such as SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny H Xie
- Department of Discovery Biology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ;
| | - Yifan Zhang
- Department of Discovery Biology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
| | - Martine Loubeau
- Department of Discovery Biology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
| | - Paul Mangan
- Department of Discovery Biology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
| | | | - Christian Tovar
- Department of Discovery Biology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
| | - Xiadi Zhou
- Department of Discovery Biology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
| | - Priyanka Madia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Candidate Optimization, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
| | - Michael Doyle
- Department of Discovery Protein Science, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
| | - Shailesh Dudhgaonkar
- Biocon-Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Development Center, Syngene International Ltd., Bangalore, India; and
| | - Anjuman Rudra
- Biocon-Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Development Center, Syngene International Ltd., Bangalore, India; and
| | - Siva Subramani
- Biocon-Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Development Center, Syngene International Ltd., Bangalore, India; and
| | - James Young
- Department of Discovery Biology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
| | - Luisa Salter-Cid
- Department of Discovery Biology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
| | - Thomas R Malek
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL
| | - Mary Struthers
- Department of Discovery Biology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ;
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Adverse Events Associated with Belimumab Therapy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN RHEUMATOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40674-021-00179-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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21
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Depascale R, Gatto M, Zen M, Saccon F, Larosa M, Zanatta E, Bindoli S, Doria A, Iaccarino L. Belimumab: a step forward in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2021; 21:563-573. [PMID: 33630721 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2021.1895744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic B cell-mediated autoimmune disease which can potentially involve several organs and systems. The development of SLE is associated with a complexity of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors leading to immune deregulation and production of autoantibodies. Therefore, novel therapies have focused on B cells as key effectors of SLE pathogenesis. Belimumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that antagonizes B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS); it is the first and the only biological drug approved for SLE in over 50 years.Areas covered: In this review we discuss the pharmacological properties of belimumab, new recommendations for its use in clinical practice and its evidence of efficacy and safety based on clinical trial and real-life data.Expert opinion: Efficacy and safety of belimumab in clinical practice have been well established. To date, it is known that early introduction of belimumab in SLE can maximize the efficacy of the drug. A number of questions are still open, such as the timing of belimumab discontinuation and its possible association with other biological drugs, which need to be assessed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariele Gatto
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Margherita Zen
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Sara Bindoli
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Doria
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Iaccarino
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Taulaigo AV, Moschetti L, Ganhão S, Gerardi MC, Franceschini F, Tincani A, Andreoli L. Safety considerations when using drugs in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2021; 20:523-536. [PMID: 33599570 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2021.1893298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) mainly affects young females during childbearing age; therefore, reproductive issues are of major interest.Areas covered: Pregnancy planning is crucial to adjust the treatment toward drugs that are safe throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. The evidence about drug safety is limited to post-marketing surveillance, registries, case series, and case reports, as pregnant patients are excluded from randomized clinical trials. The aim of this review is to report the safety considerations when treating pregnant SLE patients. Regarding maternal side effects of drugs, we focused on metabolic, infectious, and hemorrhagic complications. Fetal safety was analyzed looking at drugs teratogenicity, their possible effects on immune system, and on the long-term neuropsychological development of children.Expert opinion: The management of pregnancy in SLE has changed when knowledge about the safety of drugs has become available. Keeping SLE disease activity under control before, during and after pregnancy is of fundamental importance to ensure the best possible outcomes for mother and child. All these issues must be discussed with the patient and her family during preconception counseling. International efforts in terms of pregnancy registries and reproductive health guidelines help physicians improve their communication with SLE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Viola Taulaigo
- Unidade De Doenças Auto-imunes/Medicina 7.2, Hospital Curry Cabral, Centro Hospitalar Universitário De Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Liala Moschetti
- Unit of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Ganhão
- Rheumatology Department, Centro Hospitalar E Universitário De São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria-Chiara Gerardi
- Unit of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Franco Franceschini
- Unit of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Angela Tincani
- Unit of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Laura Andreoli
- Unit of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, ASST Spedali Civili; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Ramsey-Goldman R, Alexander RV, Conklin J, Arriens C, Narain S, Massarotti EM, Wallace DJ, Collins CE, Saxena A, Putterman C, Brady K, Kalunian KC, Weinstein A. A Multianalyte Assay Panel With Cell-Bound Complement Activation Products Predicts Transition of Probable Lupus to American College of Rheumatology-Classified Lupus. ACR Open Rheumatol 2021; 3:116-123. [PMID: 33538130 PMCID: PMC7882535 DOI: 10.1002/acr2.11219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the usefulness of biomarkers to predict the evolution of patients suspected of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), designated as probable SLE (pSLE), into classifiable SLE according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria. Methods Patients suspected of SLE were enrolled by lupus experts if they fulfilled three ACR criteria for SLE and were followed for approximately 1‐3 years to evaluate transition into ACR‐classifiable SLE. Individual cell‐bound complement activation products (CB‐CAPs), serum complement proteins (C3 and C4), and autoantibodies were measured by flow cytometry, turbidimetry, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Blood levels of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were measured by mass spectrometry. A multianalyte assay panel (MAP), which includes CB‐CAPs, was also evaluated. A MAP of greater than 0.8 reflected the optimal cutoff for transition to SLE. Time to fulfillment of ACR criteria was evaluated by Kaplan‐Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model. Results Of the 92 patients with pSLE enrolled, 74 had one or two follow‐up visits 9‐35 months after enrollment for a total of 128 follow‐up visits. Overall, 28 patients with pSLE (30.4%) transitioned to ACR‐classifiable SLE, including 16 (57%) in the first year and 12 (43%) afterwards. A MAP score of greater than 0.8 at enrollment predicted transition to classifiable SLE during the follow‐up period (hazard ratio = 2.72; P = 0.012), whereas individual biomarkers or fulfillment of Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria did not. HCQ therapy was not associated with the prevention of transition to SLE. Conclusion Approximately one‐third of patients with pSLE transitioned within the study period. MAP of greater than 0.8 predicted disease evolution into classifiable SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sonali Narain
- Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Great Neck, New York
| | | | | | | | - Amit Saxena
- New York University School of Medicine, New York
| | - Chaim Putterman
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, Azrieli School of Medicine, Safed, Israel, and Galillee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel
| | | | | | - Arthur Weinstein
- Exagen, Inc, Vista, California, and Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
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Sheikh SZ, Scheinberg MA, Wei JCC, Tegzova D, Stohl W, de Toledo RA, Mucenic T, Banfi MRA, Maksimowicz-McKinnon K, Abud-Mendoza C, Navarra S, Garcia M, Garcia-De La Torre I, Ros JO, Levy RA, Bass DL, Terrés JR, Punwaney R, Harris J, Nami A, Pierce A, Thorneloe KS, Ji B, Roth DA. Mortality and adverse events of special interest with intravenous belimumab for adults with active, autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (BASE): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 4 trial. THE LANCET. RHEUMATOLOGY 2021; 3:e122-e130. [PMID: 38279368 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(20)30355-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Belimumab is approved for the treatment of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although clinical trials showed a favourable benefit-risk profile, numerical differences in the incidence of mortality and adverse events of special interest (AESIs) have been reported. We assessed the frequency of these events in patients with SLE receiving belimumab or placebo plus standard therapy. METHODS BASE was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 4 trial done in 33 countries. Adults with active SLE were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive intravenous belimumab (10 mg/kg) or placebo, plus standard therapy, for 48 weeks. The primary endpoints were incidences of all-cause mortality and AESIs during the on-treatment period (first-to-last study drug dose + 28 days). Safety analyses were done in the as-treated population (patients grouped by actual treatment received >50% of the time). This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01705977). FINDINGS Between Nov 27, 2012, and July 28, 2017, we randomly assigned 4018 patients. The as-treated population included 2002 patients in the belimumab group versus 2001 in the placebo group. Ten (0·50%) patients in the belimumab group died versus eight (0·40%) in the placebo group (difference 0·10%, 95% CI -0·31 to 0·51). Incidences were similar in the belimumab and placebo groups for serious infections (75 [3·75%] of 2002 vs 82 [4·10%] of 2001; difference -0·35%, 95% CI -1·55 to 0·85), opportunistic infections and other infections of interest (36 [1·80%] vs 50 [2·50%]; -0·70%, -1·60 to 0·20), non-melanoma skin cancers (4 [0·20%] vs 3 [0·15%]; 0·05%, -0·21 to 0·31) and other malignancies (5 [0·25%] vs 5 [0·25%]; 0·00%, -0·31 to 0·31). A higher proportion of patients in the belimumab group than in the placebo group had infusion and hypersensitivity reactions (8 [0·40%] vs 2 [0·10%]; 0·30%, -0·01 to 0·61), serious depression (7 [0·35%] vs 1 [0·05%]; 0·30%, 0·02 to 0·58), treatment-emergent suicidality (28 [1·42%] of 1972 patients vs 23 [1·16%] of 1986; 0·26%, -0·44 to 0·96), and sponsor-adjudicated serious suicide or self-injury (15 [0·75%] of 1972 patients vs 5 [0·25%] of 1986; post hoc difference 0·50%, 0·06 to 0·94). INTERPRETATION In line with previously published data, incidences of all-cause mortality and AESIs were similar in patients given belimumab and placebo, except for serious infusion or hypersensitivity reactions, serious depression, treatment-emergent suicidality, and sponsor-adjudicated serious suicide or self-injury events. FUNDING GSK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saira Z Sheikh
- University of North Carolina Thurston Arthritis Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, USA.
| | | | - James Cheng-Chung Wei
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Dana Tegzova
- Institute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - William Stohl
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Carlos Abud-Mendoza
- Hospital Central "Dr Ignacio Morones Prieto", Unidad Regional de Reumatologia y Osteoporosis, Hospital Central, San Luis Potosí, Mexico; Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | | | - Mercedes Garcia
- Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos José de San Martín, La Plata, Argentina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alireza Nami
- Joint Muscle Medical Care and Research Institute, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Amy Pierce
- ViiV Healthcare, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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25
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Ruiz-Irastorza G, Bertsias G. Treating systemic lupus erythematosus in the 21st century: new drugs and new perspectives on old drugs. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 59:v69-v81. [PMID: 33280011 PMCID: PMC7719039 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Besides treating acute flares, the management of SLE should aim at preventing organ damage accrual and drug-associated harms, improving health-related quality of life and prolonging survival. At present, therapy is based on combinations of antimalarials (mainly HCQ), considered the backbone of SLE treatment, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs. However, these regimens are not universally effective and a substantial degree of damage can be caused by exposure to glucocorticoids. In this review we provide a critical appraisal of the efficacy and safety of available treatments as well as a brief discussion of potentially novel compounds in patients with SLE. We emphasize the use of methylprednisolone pulses for moderate–severe flares, followed by low–moderate doses of oral prednisone with quick tapering to maintenance doses of ≤5 mg/day, as well as the prompt institution of immunosuppressive drugs in the setting of severe disease but also as steroid-sparing agents. Indications for the use of biologic agents, namely belimumab and rituximab, in refractory or organ-threatening disease are also presented. We conclude by proposing evidence- and experience-based treatment strategies tailored to the clinical scenario and prevailing organ involvement that can aid clinicians in managing this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Ruiz-Irastorza
- Autoimmune Diseases Research Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, University of the Basque Country, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Bilbao, Spain
| | - George Bertsias
- Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Crete Medical School and University Hospital of Iraklio, Iraklio, Greece
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26
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Bag-Ozbek A, Hui-Yuen JS. Emerging B-Cell Therapies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2021; 17:39-54. [PMID: 33488082 PMCID: PMC7814238 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s252592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystem, autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, whose hallmark is the production of autoantibodies. B cells are promising targets for novel SLE therapies. In 2011, belimumab (Benlysta®), a fully humanized monoclonal antibody inhibiting B-cell activation and proliferation, was the first medication in 50 years to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat adult SLE. This review discusses the current experience with B-cell-targeted therapies, including those targeting B-cell-surface antigens (rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, obinutuzumab, obexelimab, epratuzumab, daratumumab), B-cell survival factors (belimumab, tabalumab, atacicept, blisibimod), or B-cell intracellular functions (ibrutinib, fenebrutinib, proteasome inhibitors), for the management of SLE. It focuses on ongoing clinical trials and real-world post-marketing use, where available, including their safety profiles, and concludes with our recommendations for B-cell-centric approaches to the management of SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Bag-Ozbek
- Division of Rheumatology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Joyce S Hui-Yuen
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, USA
- Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
- Center for Autoimmune, Musculoskeletal, and Hematopoietic Diseases Research, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
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27
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Lamb YN. Belimumab in systemic lupus erythematosus: a profile of its use. DRUGS & THERAPY PERSPECTIVES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40267-020-00788-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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28
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Akbar L, Alsagheir R, Al-Mayouf SM. Efficacy of a sequential treatment by belimumab in monogenic systemic lupus erythematosus. Eur J Rheumatol 2020; 7:eurjrheum.2020.20087. [PMID: 32910770 PMCID: PMC7574768 DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2020.20087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of the study was to report the safety and potential therapeutic effect of belimumab in monogenic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Consecutive children with monogenic SLE treated with belimumab were evaluated retrospectively. Response parameters assessment was completed at the time of initiation of belimumab, at 6 months, and last follow-up visit. Response parameters comprised physician global assessment (physician GA) and parent global assessment (parent GA), global disease activity as measured by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), and daily glucocorticoids dose. Undesirable events affecting patients during treatment were also collected. Six children with monogenic SLE proved by genetic testing (five patients with C1q deficiency and one patient with deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) deficiency), failed glucocorticoids and sequential immunosuppressive medications. Belimumab was added to glucocorticoids and current immunosuppressive medications. The main indications for belimumab initiation were mucocutaneous disease, arthritis, and inability to taper glucocorticoids. All patients tolerated belimumab infusion. No serious events were reported. However, one patient was lost to follow-up and died because of sepsis. Compared to the baseline values, there was an improvement in physician GA, parent GA, and SLEDAI, and a notable reduction in the need of daily corticosteroids. However, there were no significant changes in the complement and ds-DNA antibody levels. Belimumab can be considered as an adjunctive therapeutic option for patients with refractory monogenic SLE. Further follow-up and more patients needed to confirm this finding and a larger prospective study is required for more definitive conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lujayn Akbar
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Razan Alsagheir
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sulaiman M Al-Mayouf
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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29
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Gatto M, Saccon F, Zen M, Regola F, Fredi M, Andreoli L, Tincani A, Urban ML, Emmi G, Ceccarelli F, Conti F, Bortoluzzi A, Govoni M, Tani C, Mosca M, Ubiali T, Gerosa M, Bozzolo E, Canti V, Cardinaletti P, Gabrielli A, Tanti G, Gremese E, De Marchi G, De Vita S, Fasano S, Ciccia F, Pazzola G, Salvarani C, Negrini S, Puppo F, Di Matteo A, De Angelis R, Orsolini G, Rossini M, Faggioli P, Laria A, Piga M, Mathieu A, Scarpato S, Rossi FW, Paulis A, Brunetta E, Ceribelli A, Selmi C, Prete M, Racanelli V, Vacca A, Bartoloni E, Gerli R, Larosa M, Iaccarino L, Doria A. Early Disease and Low Baseline Damage as Predictors of Response to Belimumab in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Real‐Life Setting. Arthritis Rheumatol 2020; 72:1314-1324. [DOI: 10.1002/art.41253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alessandra Bortoluzzi
- University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliera–Universitaria di Ferrara Cona Ferrara Italy
| | - Marcello Govoni
- University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliera–Universitaria di Ferrara Cona Ferrara Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Giacomo Tanti
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Sede di Roma Rome Italy
| | - Elisa Gremese
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Sede di Roma and Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli‐IRCCS Rome Italy
| | | | | | - Serena Fasano
- Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Naples Italy
| | - Francesco Ciccia
- Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Naples Italy
| | - Giulia Pazzola
- Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Reggio EmiliaIRCCS Reggio Emilia Italy
| | - Carlo Salvarani
- Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Reggio EmiliaIRCCS, and Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Matteo Piga
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari University Clinic and University of Cagliari Cagliari Italy
| | - Alessandro Mathieu
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari University Clinic and University of Cagliari Cagliari Italy
| | | | | | | | - Enrico Brunetta
- Humanitas Research Hospital and Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
| | - Angela Ceribelli
- Reumatologia ed Immunologia ClinicaIRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas Milan Italy
| | - Carlo Selmi
- Università degli Studi di Milano and Reumatologia ed Immunologia ClinicaIRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas Milan Italy
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van Vollenhoven RF, Navarra SV, Levy RA, Thomas M, Heath A, Lustine T, Adamkovic A, Fettiplace J, Wang ML, Ji B, Roth D. Long-term safety and limited organ damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with belimumab: a Phase III study extension. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2020; 59:281-291. [PMID: 31302695 PMCID: PMC7571485 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kez279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This extension study of the Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled Belimumab International SLE Study (BLISS)-52 and BLISS-76 studies allowed non-US patients with SLE to continue belimumab treatment, in order to evaluate its long-term safety and tolerability including organ damage accrual. METHODS In this multicentre, long-term extension study (GlaxoSmithKline Study BEL112234) patients received i.v. belimumab every 4 weeks plus standard therapy. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed monthly and safety-associated laboratory parameters were assessed at regular intervals. Organ damage (SLICC/ACR Damage Index) was assessed every 48 weeks. The study continued until belimumab was commercially available, with a subsequent 8-week follow-up period. RESULTS A total of 738 patients entered the extension study and 735/738 (99.6%) received one or more doses of belimumab. Annual incidence of AEs, including serious and severe AEs, remained stable or declined over time. Sixty-nine (9.4%) patients experienced an AE resulting in discontinuation of belimumab or withdrawal from the study. Eleven deaths occurred (and two during post-treatment follow-up), including one (cardiogenic shock) considered possibly related to belimumab. Laboratory parameters generally remained stable. The mean (s.d.) SLICC/ACR Damage Index score was 0.6 (1.02) at baseline (prior to the first dose of belimumab) and remained stable. At study year 8, 57/65 (87.7%) patients had no change in SLICC/ACR Damage Index score from baseline, indicating low organ damage accrual. CONCLUSION Belimumab displayed a stable safety profile with no new safety signals. There was minimal organ damage progression over 8 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00424476 (BLISS-52), NCT00410384 (BLISS-76), NCT00732940 (BEL112232), NCT00712933 (BEL112234).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roger A Levy
- Rio de Janeiro State University, Pedro Ernesto University Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mathew Thomas
- Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Kerala, India
| | - Amy Heath
- GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
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Belimumab may decrease flare rate and allow glucocorticoid withdrawal in lupus nephritis (including dialysis and transplanted patient). J Nephrol 2020; 33:1019-1025. [DOI: 10.1007/s40620-020-00706-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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32
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Ramsey-Goldman R, Alexander RV, Massarotti EM, Wallace DJ, Narain S, Arriens C, Collins CE, Saxena A, Putterman C, Kalunian KC, O'Malley T, Dervieux T, Weinstein A. Complement Activation in Patients With Probable Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Ability to Predict Progression to American College of Rheumatology-Classified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol 2019; 72:78-88. [PMID: 31469249 PMCID: PMC6972605 DOI: 10.1002/art.41093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the frequency of cell‐bound complement activation products (CB‐CAPs) as a marker of complement activation in patients with suspected systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the usefulness of this biomarker as a predictor of the evolution of probable SLE into SLE as classified by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Methods Patients in whom SLE was suspected by lupus experts and who fulfilled 3 ACR classification criteria for SLE (probable SLE) were enrolled, along with patients with established SLE as classified by both the ACR and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria, patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and patients with other rheumatic diseases. Individual CB‐CAPs were measured by flow cytometry, and positivity rates were compared to those of commonly assessed biomarkers, including serum complement proteins (C3 and C4) and autoantibodies. The frequency of a positive multianalyte assay panel (MAP), which includes CB‐CAPs, was also evaluated. Probable SLE cases were followed up prospectively. Results The 92 patients with probable SLE were diagnosed more recently than the 53 patients with established SLE, and their use of antirheumatic medications was lower. At the enrollment visit, more patients with probable SLE were positive for CB‐CAPs (28%) or MAP (40%) than had low complement levels (9%) (P = 0.0001 for each). In probable SLE, MAP scores of >0.8 at enrollment predicted fulfillment of a fourth ACR criterion within 18 months (hazard ratio 3.11, P < 0.01). Conclusion Complement activation occurs in some patients with probable SLE and can be detected with higher frequency by evaluating CB‐CAPs and MAP than by assessing traditional serum complement protein levels. A MAP score above 0.8 predicts transition to classifiable SLE according to ACR criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sonali Narain
- Northwell Health and Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | | | | | - Amit Saxena
- New York University School of Medicine, New York
| | - Chaim Putterman
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, New York, New York
| | | | | | | | - Arthur Weinstein
- Exagen, Inc., Vista, California, and Georgetown University, Washington, DC
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Wise LM, Stohl W. The safety of belimumab for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2019; 18:1133-1144. [DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2019.1685978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Leanna M Wise
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - William Stohl
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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He J, Zhang R, Shao M, Zhao X, Miao M, Chen J, Liu J, Zhang X, Zhang X, Jin Y, Wang Y, Zhang S, Zhu L, Jacob A, Jia R, You X, Li X, Li C, Zhou Y, Yang Y, Ye H, Liu Y, Su Y, Shen N, Alexander J, Guo J, Ambrus J, Lin X, Yu D, Sun X, Li Z. Efficacy and safety of low-dose IL-2 in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis 2019; 79:141-149. [PMID: 31537547 PMCID: PMC6937406 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-215396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Open-labelled clinical trials suggested that low-dose IL-2 might be effective in treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A double-blind and placebo-controlled trial is required to formally evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-dose IL-2 therapy. Methods A randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial was designed to treat 60 patients with active SLE. These patients received either IL-2 (n=30) or placebo (n=30) with standard treatment for 12 weeks, and were followed up for additional 12 weeks. IL-2 at a dose of 1 million IU or placebo was administered subcutaneously every other day for 2 weeks and followed by a 2-week break as one treatment cycle. The primary endpoint was the SLE Responder Index-4 (SRI-4) at week 12. The secondary endpoints were other clinical responses, safety and dynamics of immune cell subsets. Results At week 12, the SRI-4 response rates were 55.17% and 30.00% for IL-2 and placebo, respectively (p=0.052). At week 24, the SRI-4 response rate of IL-2 group was 65.52%, compared with 36.67% of the placebo group (p=0.027). The primary endpoint was not met at week 12. Low-dose IL-2 treatment resulted in 53.85% (7/13) complete remission in patients with lupus nephritis, compared with 16.67% (2/12) in the placebo group (p=0.036). No serious infection was observed in the IL-2 group, but two in placebo group. Besides expansion of regulatory T cells, low-dose IL-2 may also sustain cellular immunity with enhanced natural killer cells. Conclusions Low-dose IL-2 might be effective and tolerated in treatment of SLE. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov Registries (NCT02465580 and NCT02932137).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing He
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China
| | - Ruijun Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Miao Shao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China
| | - Xiaozhen Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Miao Miao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiali Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuebo Jin
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Center for Applied Statistics and School of Statistics, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Shilei Zhang
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Alexander Jacob
- Department of Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Rulin Jia
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xujie You
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chun Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yunshan Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Ye
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanying Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yin Su
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Shen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology,China-Australia Centre for Personalised Immunology, Shanghai Renji Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jessy Alexander
- Department of Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jianping Guo
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China
| | - Julian Ambrus
- Department of Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Di Yu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology,China-Australia Centre for Personalised Immunology, Shanghai Renji Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolin Sun
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China
| | - Zhanguo Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Tanaka Y, Bass D, Chu M, Egginton S, Ji B, Roth D. Organ system improvements in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with belimumab: A subgroup analysis from a phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial. Mod Rheumatol 2019; 30:313-320. [DOI: 10.1080/14397595.2019.1630897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiya Tanaka
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Damon Bass
- Immuno-Inflammation, GSK, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Myron Chu
- Immuno-Inflammation, GSK, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Beulah Ji
- R&D Clinical Development, GSK, Uxbridge, UK
| | - David Roth
- Immuno-Inflammation, GSK, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Dörner T, Furie R. Novel paradigms in systemic lupus erythematosus. Lancet 2019; 393:2344-2358. [PMID: 31180031 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(19)30546-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The heterogeneity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), long recognised by clinicians, is now challenging the entire lupus community, from geneticists to clinical investigators. Although the outlook for patients with SLE has greatly improved, many unmet needs remain, chief of which is the development of safer and more efficacious therapies. To develop innovative therapies, a far better understanding of SLE pathogenesis as it relates to the array of clinical phenotypes is needed. Additionally, to efficiently achieve these goals, the lupus community needs to refine existing clinical research tools and better adapt them to overcome the obstacles created by the heterogeneity of manifestations. Here, we review progress towards the ultimate goal of safely reducing disease activity and preventing damage accrual and death. We discuss the new classification criteria from the European League Against Rheumatism and American College of Rheumatology, novel definitions of remission and low lupus disease activity, and new proposals for the histological classification of lupus nephritis. Recommendations for the treatment of SLE and novel approaches to drug development hold much promise to further enhance SLE outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dörner
- Department of Medicine and Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Richard Furie
- Division of Rheumatology Northwell Health and Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Great Neck, NY, USA
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Wallace DJ, Ginzler EM, Merrill JT, Furie RA, Stohl W, Chatham WW, Weinstein A, McKay JD, McCune WJ, Petri M, Fettiplace J, Roth DA, Ji B, Heath A. Safety and Efficacy of Belimumab Plus Standard Therapy for Up to Thirteen Years in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol 2019; 71:1125-1134. [PMID: 30771238 PMCID: PMC6617785 DOI: 10.1002/art.40861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Objective To investigate the long‐term safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) belimumab plus standard of care (SOC) therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with active, autoantibody‐positive SLE. Methods The study was designed as a multicenter, open‐label, continuation study of IV belimumab given every 4 weeks in conjunction with SOC therapy in patients with SLE who completed a phase II, double‐blind study. Adverse events (AEs) and laboratory data were monitored from the first belimumab dose (in either study) until 24 weeks after the final dose. Efficacy assessments included SLE Responder Index (SRI) and flare index scores (each assessed at 16‐week intervals) and glucocorticoid use (assessed at 4‐week intervals). Results Of the 476 patients in the parent study, 298 (62.6%) entered the continuation study, of whom 96 (32.2%) remained in the study. Patients received belimumab for up to 13 years (median duration of exposure 3,334.0 days [range 260–4,332 days], total belimumab exposure 2,294 patient‐years, median number of infusions 115.5 [range 7–155]). The percentage of patients with AEs each year remained stable or decreased. Normal serum IgG levels were maintained in the majority of patients over the study, and the rate of infections remained stable. The percentage of patients who achieved an SRI response increased from 32.8% (year 1) to 75.6% of those remaining on treatment at year 12. The glucocorticoid dose was decreased in patients who had been receiving >7.5 mg/day at baseline. Conclusion This study is the longest to date to assess belimumab treatment in patients with SLE in clinical trials. Belimumab was well tolerated with no new safety concerns, and efficacy was maintained in patients who continued the study. For patients who initially exhibited a satisfactory response to belimumab, the treatment continues to be well tolerated and provides long‐term disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - William Stohl
- University of Southern California Keck School of MedicineLos Angeles
| | | | | | - James D. McKay
- Oklahoma State University Center for Health SciencesTulsa
| | | | - Michelle Petri
- Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMaryland
| | | | | | | | - Amy Heath
- GlaxoSmithKlineRaleigh‐DurhamNorth Carolina
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Abstract
Belimumab (Benlysta®) is a human immunoglobulin G1λ monoclonal antibody that inhibits the binding of soluble B lymphocyte stimulator to B cells. It is the only biological agent currently approved for the treatment of non-renal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Belimumab is approved in the EU, the USA and other countries as add-on therapy in adult patients with active, autoantibody-positive SLE despite standard therapy. In phase III trials, treatment with IV or SC belimumab plus standard therapy was effective in terms of reducing overall disease activity and reducing the incidence and severity of flares, without worsening of patients' overall condition or the development of significant disease activity in new organ systems. Sustained disease control was maintained during longer-term (up to 10 years) treatment with IV belimumab. Belimumab also demonstrated steroid-sparing effects and was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in health-related quality of life and fatigue. Belimumab was generally well tolerated in clinical trials, with low rates of immunogenicity. In view of the flexibility regarding the route of administration and the convenience of the once-weekly, self-administered, SC regimen, add-on therapy with belimumab is a useful treatment option for patients with active, autoantibody-positive SLE despite standard therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah A Blair
- Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand.
| | - Sean T Duggan
- Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand
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Teng YKO, Bruce IN, Diamond B, Furie RA, van Vollenhoven RF, Gordon D, Groark J, Henderson RB, Oldham M, Tak PP. Phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 104-week study of subcutaneous belimumab administered in combination with rituximab in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): BLISS-BELIEVE study protocol. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e025687. [PMID: 30898822 PMCID: PMC6475247 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Belimumab, an anti-B-lymphocyte-stimulator antibody, is approved for the treatment of active, autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Rituximab, a B cell-depleting anti-CD20 antibody, remains in the SLE treatment armamentarium despite failed trials in lupus nephritis and extrarenal lupus. These biologics, which operate through complementary mechanisms, might result in an enhanced depletion of circulating and tissue-resident autoreactive B lymphocytes when administered together. Thus, belimumab and rituximab combination may be a highly effective treatment of SLE. This study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of subcutaneous (SC) belimumab and a single cycle of rituximab in patients with SLE with belimumab alone. METHODS AND ANALYSIS BLISS-BELIEVE is a three-arm, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 104-week superiority study. Two hundred adults with SLE will be randomised 1:2:1 to arm A, belimumab SC 200 mg/week for 52 weeks plus placebo at weeks 4 and 6; arm B, belimumab SC 200 mg/week for 52 weeks plus rituximab 1000 mg at weeks 4 and 6; arm C, belimumab SC 200 mg/week plus standard of care for 104 weeks. The 52-week treatment period (arms A and B) is followed by a 52-week observational phase. The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of patients with disease control (SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)-2K≤2, without immunosuppressants and with a prednisone-equivalent dose of ≤5 mg/day) at week 52. Major secondary efficacy endpoints are the proportion of patients in clinical remission (defined as SLEDAI-2K=0, without immunosuppressants and corticosteroids) at week 64, and the proportion of patients with disease control at week 104. Safety endpoints include the incidence of adverse events (AEs), serious AEs and AEs of special interest. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Within 6 months of the study's primary manuscript publication, anonymised individual participant data and study documents can be requested for further research from www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03312907; Pre-results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y K Onno Teng
- Department of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ian N Bruce
- Division of Musculoskeletal & Dermatological Sciences, Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, The University of Manchester and NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Betty Diamond
- Autoimmune, Musculoskeletal and Hematopoietic Diseases, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Richard A Furie
- Division of Rheumatology, Northwell Health, Great Neck, New York, USA
| | | | - David Gordon
- GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James Groark
- GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Mary Oldham
- GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Paul P Tak
- GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK
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Maglione PJ, Gyimesi G, Cols M, Radigan L, Ko HM, Weinberger T, Lee BH, Grasset EK, Rahman AH, Cerutti A, Cunningham-Rundles C. BAFF-driven B cell hyperplasia underlies lung disease in common variable immunodeficiency. JCI Insight 2019; 4:122728. [PMID: 30843876 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.122728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary immunodeficiency and is frequently complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD) for which etiology is unknown and therapy inadequate. METHODS Medical record review implicated B cell dysregulation in CVID ILD progression. This was further studied in blood and lung samples using culture, cytometry, ELISA, and histology. Eleven CVID ILD patients were treated with rituximab and followed for 18 months. RESULTS Serum IgM increased in conjunction with ILD progression, a finding that reflected the extent of IgM production within B cell follicles in lung parenchyma. Targeting these pulmonary B cell follicles with rituximab ameliorated CVID ILD, but disease recurred in association with IgM elevation. Searching for a stimulus of this pulmonary B cell hyperplasia, we found B cell-activating factor (BAFF) increased in blood and lungs of progressive and post-rituximab CVID ILD patients and detected elevation of BAFF-producing monocytes in progressive ILD. This elevated BAFF interacts with naive B cells, as they are the predominant subset in progressive CVID ILD, expressing BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) within pulmonary B cell follicles and blood to promote Bcl-2 expression. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 was linked with exclusion of apoptosis from B cell follicles in CVID ILD and increased survival of naive CVID B cells cultured with BAFF. CONCLUSION CVID ILD is driven by pulmonary B cell hyperplasia that is reflected by serum IgM elevation, ameliorated by rituximab, and bolstered by elevated BAFF-mediated apoptosis resistance via BAFF-R. FUNDING NIH, Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium, and Rare Disease Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gavin Gyimesi
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Lin Radigan
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine
| | | | | | - Brian H Lee
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emilie K Grasset
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine.,Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adeeb H Rahman
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea Cerutti
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine.,Program for Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Disorders, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.,Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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Urowitz MB, Ohsfeldt RL, Wielage RC, Kelton KA, Asukai Y, Ramachandran S. Organ damage in patients treated with belimumab versus standard of care: a propensity score-matched comparative analysis. Ann Rheum Dis 2019; 78:372-379. [PMID: 30610066 PMCID: PMC6390027 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The study (206347) compared organ damage progression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who received belimumab in the BLISS long-term extension (LTE) study with propensity score (PS)-matched patients treated with standard of care (SoC) from the Toronto Lupus Cohort (TLC). Methods A systematic literature review identified 17 known predictors of organ damage to calculate a PS for each patient. Patients from the BLISS LTE and the TLC were PS matched posthoc 1:1 based on their PS (±calliper). The primary endpoint was difference in change in Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) score from baseline to 5 years. Results For the 5- year analysis, of 567 (BLISS LTE n=195; TLC n=372) patients, 99 from each cohort were 1:1 PS matched. Change in SDI score at Year 5 was significantly lower for patients treated with belimumab compared with SoC (−0.434; 95% CI –0.667 to –0.201; p<0.001). For the time to organ damage progression analysis (≥1 year follow-up), the sample included 965 (BLISS LTE n=259; TLC n=706) patients, of whom 179 from each cohort were PS-matched. Patients receiving belimumab were 61% less likely to progress to a higher SDI score over any given year compared with patients treated with SoC (HR 0.391; 95% CI 0.253 to 0.605; p<0.001). Among the SDI score increases, the proportion of increases ≥2 was greater in the SoC group compared with the belimumab group. Conclusions PS-matched patients receiving belimumab had significantly less organ damage progression compared with patients receiving SoC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray B Urowitz
- Centre for Prognosis Studies in Rheumatic Diseases, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert L Ohsfeldt
- School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.,Medical Decision Modeling Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Kari A Kelton
- Medical Decision Modeling Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Yumi Asukai
- Value Evidence & Outcomes, GSK, Brentford, UK
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Gatto M, Zen M, Iaccarino L, Doria A. New therapeutic strategies in systemic lupus erythematosus management. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2018; 15:30-48. [DOI: 10.1038/s41584-018-0133-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Gerosa M, Argolini LM, Artusi C, Chighizola CB. The use of biologics and small molecules in pregnant patients with rheumatic diseases. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2018; 11:987-998. [PMID: 30227748 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2018.1525293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Biological agents have radically changed the prognosis of rheumatic patients. Current evidence demonstrates that tight disease control during pregnancy is mandatory to minimize adverse outcome risk. As the new therapeutic tools are pivotal to maintain appropriate disease activity, it is timely to review available evidence about the safety of biologics and small molecules in pregnancy. Areas covered: A comprehensive literature review has been performed, reporting available data about the passage into breast milk, rate of pregnancy loss and fetal malformations, and long-term complications due to in utero exposure to biological agents and small molecules. Expert commentary: Data about the safety of agents against tumor necrosis factor in pregnancy are reassuring. Even rituximab, tocilizumab, belimumab, ustekinumab, secukinumab, and abatacept have not been associated with an increased rate of fetal abnormalities or adverse pregnancy outcome. Experience with small molecules is too small to draw any conclusion. Even if further data are warranted to define the possible long-term effects of in utero biologic exposure on the infant immune system development, it is reasonable to speculate that in the next future the use of biologics during pregnancy will continue to expand, at least when maternal benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gerosa
- a Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health , University of Milan, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Istituto Gaetano Pini - CTO , Milan , Italy
| | - Lorenza Maria Argolini
- a Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health , University of Milan, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Istituto Gaetano Pini - CTO , Milan , Italy
| | - Carolina Artusi
- b Division of Clinical Rheumatology , ASST Istituto Gaetano Pini - CTO , Milan , Italy
| | - Cecilia Beatrice Chighizola
- c Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health , University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Experimental Laboratory of Immunorheumatological Researches, Istituto Auxologico Italiano , Milan , Italy
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Trentin F, Gatto M, Zen M, Larosa M, Maddalena L, Nalotto L, Saccon F, Zanatta E, Iaccarino L, Doria A. Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Belimumab in Patients with Refractory SLE: a Review of Observational Clinical-Practice-Based Studies. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2018; 54:331-343. [PMID: 29512034 PMCID: PMC6132773 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-018-8675-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
To date, belimumab is the only biological drug approved for the treatment of patients with active refractory SLE. We compared and critically analyzed the results of 11 observational clinical-practice-based studies, conducted in SLE referral centers. Despite the differences in endpoints and follow-up duration, all studies remarked that belimumab provides additional benefits when used as an add-on to existing treatment, allowing a higher rate of patients to reach remission and to taper or discontinue corticosteroids. In the OBSErve studies, 2–9.6% of patients discontinued corticosteroids and 72–88.4% achieved a ≥ 20% improvement by physician’s judgment at 6 months. In Hui-Yuen’s study, 51% of patients attained response by simplified SRI at month 6. In Sthoeger’s study, 72.3% of patients discontinued corticosteroids and 69.4% achieved clinical remission by PGA after a median follow-up of 2.3 years. In the multicentric Italian study, 77 and 68.7% of patients reached SRI-4 response at months 6 and 12, respectively. In all the studies, disease activity indices decreased over time. Retention rates at 6, 9, and 12 months were 82–94.1, 61.2–83.3, and 56.7–79.2%, respectively. The main limitations of these studies include the lack of a control group, the short period of observation (6–24 months) and the lack of precise restrictions regarding concomitant medication management. This notwithstanding, these experiences provide a more realistic picture of real-life effectiveness of the drug compared with the randomized controlled clinical trials, where stringent inclusion/exclusion criteria and changes in background therapy could limit the inference of data to the routine clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Trentin
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Mariele Gatto
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Margherita Zen
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Larosa Maddalena
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Linda Nalotto
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Saccon
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Zanatta
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Iaccarino
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Doria
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
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Mesnyankina AA, Solovyev SK, Aseeva EA, Nasonov EL. THE EFFICIENCY OF BIOLOGICAL THERAPY AND THE FEATURES OF HUMORAL IMMUNITY IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.14412/1995-4484-2018-302-309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective: to investigate the effect of various biological agents (BAs), including combined treatment with rituximab (RTM) and belimumab (BLM), on the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to evaluate their efficacy and impact on some parameters of humoral immunity.Subjects and methods. BAs were prescribed to 54 patients with a reliable diagnosis of SLE with high and medium activity according to SLEDAI-2K; 40 of them received RTM, 7 – BLM; 7 – combined therapy with RTM and BLM. Clinical and laboratory examinations were made in all the patients at the time of their inclusion and then every 3 months during a year. The results were assessed using SLEDAI-2K, BILAG index, Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment (SELENA)-SLEDAI Flare index (SFI) (a moderate, severe exacerbation), and SLE Responder Index (SRI).Results and discussion. At 3, 6, and 12 months after start of therapy, the use of BAs in all the patients resulted in a disease activity reduction. It was statistically significant (p < 0.00001) in the RTM group; and no statistical analysis was carried out in the BLM and RTM+BLM groups due to the small numbers of patients. At the same time, there was a progressive decrease in the levels of anti-double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) antibodies (Abs) and an increase in the concentration of the complement fractions C3 and C4 in the RTM and RTM+BLM groups (p < 0.05) at one-year follow-up. After 12 months of therapy with BAs, there was a decrease in IgG (p < 0.02) and IgM (p < 0.03) levels; but overall it remained within the reference ranges. Prior to therapy, irreversible organ damages were recorded in 23 (42.6%) of the 54 patients. The increased damage index at 12 month was observed only in patients receiving RTM, which is probably due to the use of higher-dose glucocorticoids.Conclusion. All three methods of therapy with BAs in SLE patients demonstrated good efficiency shown as a significant decrease in clinical and laboratory activity measures that were assessed by SLEDAI-2K and the levels of anti-ds-DNA and complement components C3 and C4. The decrease in immunoglobulin levels did not go beyond the reference values. Therapy with BLM and RTM+BLM allowed for managing patients with the low and average doses of oral glucocorticoids, which contributed to the reduction of not only the activity, but also risk of irreversible organ damages.
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Parodis I, Gomez A, Frodlund M, Jönsen A, Zickert A, Sjöwall C, Bengtsson AA, Gunnarsson I. Smoking reduces the efficacy of belimumab in mucocutaneous lupus. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2018; 18:911-920. [PMID: 29958508 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1494719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recently, we demonstrated a negative impact of smoking on belimumab efficacy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we particularly investigated clinical effects of belimumab and a potential impact of smoking in mucocutaneous and articular SLE. METHODS We surveyed 62 SLE patients treated between 2011 and 2017. Evaluation included the mucocutaneous descriptors of SLEDAI-2K (rash, alopecia, mucosal ulcers; mcSLEDAI-2K), CLASI, the arthritis SLEDAI-2K descriptor (arSLEDAI-2K) and the 28-joint count. RESULTS mcSLEDAI-2K and CLASI activity decreased from baseline to month 6 and 12 (P < 0.001 for all). No worsening in CLASI damage was observed. Current or previous smokers displayed a higher probability of unchanged/worsened mcSLEDAI-2K compared to never smokers (OR: 6.4; 95% CI: 1.5-27.4; P = 0.012), also after adjustment for antimalarial agents. arSLEDAI-2K scores had decreased at month 6 (P < 0.001) and 12 (P < 0.001). Likewise, tender and swollen 28-joint counts had improved at month 6 (P = 0.010 and P < 0.001, respectively) and 12 (P = 0.001 for both). We observed no impact of smoking on belimumab efficacy in articular SLE. CONCLUSION We observed a negative impact of smoking on the efficacy of belimumab in mucocutaneous SLE. In contrast, no impact of smoking on belimumab efficacy was seen in patients with articular manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Parodis
- a Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,b Rheumatology , Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Alvaro Gomez
- a Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,b Rheumatology , Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Martina Frodlund
- c Rheumatology/Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden
| | - Andreas Jönsen
- d Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund , Lund University , Lund , Sweden
| | - Agneta Zickert
- a Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,b Rheumatology , Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Christopher Sjöwall
- c Rheumatology/Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden
| | - Anders A Bengtsson
- d Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund , Lund University , Lund , Sweden
| | - Iva Gunnarsson
- a Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,b Rheumatology , Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden
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Furie RA, Wallace DJ, Aranow C, Fettiplace J, Wilson B, Mistry P, Roth DA, Gordon D. Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Belimumab in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Continuation of a Seventy-Six-Week Phase III Parent Study in the United States. Arthritis Rheumatol 2018; 70:868-877. [PMID: 29409143 PMCID: PMC6001779 DOI: 10.1002/art.40439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We undertook this US multicenter continuation study (GlaxoSmithKline study BEL112233; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00724867) to assess long-term safety and efficacy of belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who completed the Study of Belimumab in Subjects with SLE 76-week trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00410384). METHODS Patients continued to receive the same belimumab dose plus standard therapy; patients previously receiving placebo received 10 mg/kg belimumab. The primary outcome measure was long-term safety of belimumab (frequency of adverse events [AEs] and damage assessed using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index [SDI], evaluated every 48 weeks [1 study year]). Other assessments included the SLE Responder Index (SRI), flare rates (using the modified SLE Flare Index [SFI]), prednisone use, and B cell levels. RESULTS Of 268 patients, 140 completed the study and 128 withdrew. The mean ± SD score on the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment version of the SLE Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) at baseline was 7.8 ± 3.86. The mean ± SD SDI score increased by 0.4 ± 0.68 from its value at baseline (1.2 ± 1.51). The overall incidence of treatment-related and serious AEs remained stable or declined through study year 7. An SRI response was achieved by 41.9% and 75.6% of patients at the study year 1 and study year 7 midpoints, respectively. At the study year 7 midpoint, relative to baseline, 78.2% had achieved a ≥4-point reduction in the SELENA-SLEDAI score, 98.4% had no new British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) A organ domain score and no more than 1 new BILAG B organ domain score, 93.7% had no worsening in the physician's global assessment of disease activity, 20.6% had experienced ≥1 severe SFI flare, the mean decrease in prednisone dose was 31.4%, and the median change in CD20+ B cell numbers was -83.2%. CONCLUSION These long-term exposure results confirm the previously observed safety and efficacy profiles of belimumab in patients with SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cynthia Aranow
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical ResearchManhassetNew York
| | - James Fettiplace
- GlaxoSmithKlineUxbridgeUK
- Present address:
Mundipharma ResearchCambridgeUK
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Doria A, Bass D, Schwarting A, Hammer A, Gordon D, Scheinberg M, Fox NL, Groark J, Stohl W, Kleoudis C, Roth D. A 6-month open-label extension study of the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 2018; 27:1489-1498. [PMID: 29807477 PMCID: PMC6066857 DOI: 10.1177/0961203318777634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of subcutaneous (SC)
belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) beyond 1
year. Methods This was a 24-week, open-label extension following a 52-week, double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial of belimumab SC. Patients who completed the
double-blind phase were eligible to enter the open-label phase. All patients
received weekly belimumab 200 mg SC plus standard SLE therapy. Outcome
measures included safety and efficacy (SLE Response Index (SRI) and SLE
Flare Index (SFI) rates), and changes in biomarker and B cell levels. Results Of 677 patients who completed the 52-week, double-blind phase, 662 entered
the open-label phase; 206 had previously received placebo and 456 had
previously received belimumab. Despite differences in total belimumab
exposure (24 weeks in the placebo-to-belimumab group versus 76 weeks in the
belimumab group), the proportions of patients experiencing more than one
adverse event (AE) or a serious AE in the open-label phase were similar
between groups (placebo-to-belimumab: 51.5 and 6.8%; belimumab: 48.2 and
5.5%, respectively). Most AEs were mild/moderate in severity. Efficacy was
maintained through the extension phase. An SRI response was achieved by
16.1% of patients in the placebo-to-belimumab group and 76.3% patients in
the belimumab group. Furthermore, 1.0% of patients in the
placebo-to-belimumab group and 2.6% of patients in the belimumab group
experienced a severe SFI flare. Conclusion Belimumab SC was well tolerated and efficacy was maintained during the
extension phase of this study. The safety profile of belimumab SC is
consistent with that of previous experience with belimumab. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01484496
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Affiliation(s)
- A Doria
- 1 Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - D Bass
- 2 GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - A Schwarting
- 3 Division of Rheumatology, University Hospital Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,4 ACURA Rheumazentrum Kliniken, Bad Kreuznach, Germany
| | - A Hammer
- 2 GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D Gordon
- 2 GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M Scheinberg
- 5 Centro de Pesquisas Clinicas do Hospital Abreu Sodré, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - N L Fox
- 6 GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - J Groark
- 2 GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - W Stohl
- 7 Division of Rheumatology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - C Kleoudis
- 8 Parexel Clinical Research, Raleigh-Durham, NC, USA
| | - D Roth
- 2 GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Poh YJ, Baptista B, D'Cruz DP. Subcutaneous and intravenous belimumab in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: a review of data on subcutaneous and intravenous administration. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2018; 13:925-938. [PMID: 28847197 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2017.1371592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Loss of B cell tolerance is a hallmark feature of the pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Recent advances in B cell therapy have focused on targeted therapy aimed at inhibiting B cell activation and reducing B cell survival. Belimumab, a human monoclonal antibody against B cell activating factor (BAFF) was licensed in 2011 for the treatment of SLE. Areas covered: We review the data on the intravenous and subcutaneous formulations of belimumab in the management of patients with SLE. BLISS-52 and BLISS-76 demonstrated the efficacy of intravenous belimumab (10mg/kg) as an add-on therapy in SLE patients with active disease. A recent phase III trial of intravenous belimumab reported similar results in North East Asian patients. Subcutaneous belimumab (200mg/weekly) has demonstrated similar efficacy, safety and tolerability and was approved by the FDA in 2017 for the treatment of active autoantibody positive SLE patients receiving standard therapy. Expert commentary: Belimumab is generally safe and well tolerated. The most common clinical manifestations of SLE in the clinical trials were arthritis, mucocutaneous disease and serositis. Patients with severe lupus nephritis and central nervous system disease were excluded from these clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y J Poh
- a Louise Coote Lupus Unit , Guy's Hospital, Guy's, St Thomas' and King's College Medical School , London , UK
| | - B Baptista
- a Louise Coote Lupus Unit , Guy's Hospital, Guy's, St Thomas' and King's College Medical School , London , UK
| | - David P D'Cruz
- a Louise Coote Lupus Unit , Guy's Hospital, Guy's, St Thomas' and King's College Medical School , London , UK
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Traitement du lupus érythémateux par le bélimumab en pratique courante : étude rétrospective de 15 malades. Ann Dermatol Venereol 2018; 145:5-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annder.2017.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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