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Update on Biologic Therapies for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (A Saxena, Guest Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystemic autoimmune disease driven by genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Despite the advances in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in the last decades, SLE still leads to significant morbidity and increased mortality. Although a cure for SLE is still unknown, treatment is required to control acute disease exacerbation episodes (flares), decrease the frequency and severity of subsequent lupus flares, address comorbidities, and prevent end-organ damage. While conventional SLE pharmacotherapy may exhibit suboptimal efficacy and substantial toxicity, a growing knowledge of the disease pathogenesis enabled the research on novel therapeutic agents directed at specific disease-related targets. In this paper, we review the recent progress in the clinical investigation of biologic agents targeting B cells, T cells, cytokines, innate immunity, and other immunologic or inflammatory pathways. Although many investigational agents exhibited insufficient efficacy or inadequate safety in clinical trials, one of them, belimumab, fulfilled the efficacy and safety regulatory requirements and was approved for the treatment of SLE in Europe and the USA, which confirms that, despite all difficulties, advances in this field are possible.

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    1. Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Research Program, Federal University of Parana, Campus III, Av. Pref. Lothario Meissner, 632, Jardim Botanico, Curitiba, PR, 80210-170, Brazil

      Helena Hiemisch Lobo Borba, Astrid Wiens, Shirley Ramos da Rosa Utiyama, Cássio Marques Perlin & Roberto Pontarolo

    2. Rheumatology Service, Hospital de Clinicas, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

      Andreas Funke

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    1. Helena Hiemisch Lobo Borba
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    Helena Hiemisch Lobo Borba, Andreas Funke, Astrid Wiens, Shirley Ramos da Rosa Utiyama and Cássio Marques Perlin contributed equally to this work.

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    Borba, H.H.L., Funke, A., Wiens, A. et al. Update on Biologic Therapies for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Curr Rheumatol Rep 18, 44 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-016-0589-5

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