February 2024

Evaluation of RNase Therapy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Randomised Phase 2a Clinical Trial of RSLV-132

Lupus Sci Med. 2024;11:e001113 DOI 10.1136/lupus-2023-001113

Treatment with RSLV-132 was associated with lower rates of SAEs than placebo, although RSLV-132 therapy was not associated with a significant improvement in the mean CLASI score relative to placebo. However, results suggest that further evaluations of RSLV-132 in SLE should be undertaken with patients with more active disease who are most likely to benefit from RNase therapy.

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Development of the American College of Rheumatology's Patient-reported Outcome Quality Measures for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2024 doi: 10.1002/acr.25301. Epub ahead of print.

Expert workgroup members and patient partners recommend that clinicians assess depression and physical function at least once yearly in all people with SLE. Additional patient reported outcome measures addressing cognition and fatigue can also be assessed.

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Predictors of Renal Flares in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Post-hoc Analysis of Four Phase III Clinical Trials of Belimumab

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2024 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae023 Epub ahead of print

High baseline proteinuria levels, hypoalbuminaemia, and C3 consumption were associated with
renal flare development. Renal flares remain common in patients with SLE, however causative factors are still largely unknown. Jagerback, et al. conducted a post-hoc analysis of pooled BLISS trial data to identify predictors of renal flares.

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December 2023

Kidney Outcomes and Preservation of Kidney Function with Obinutuzumab in Patients with Lupus Nephritis: A Post Hoc Analysis of the NOBILITY Trial

Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023 DOI 10.1002/art.42734

This post hoc analysis of the Phase 2 NOBILITY trial determined that obinutuzumab plus standard of care improved the likelihood of long-term preservation of kidney function and improved kidney function with less glucocorticoid use in patients with lupus nephritis.

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Efficacy and Safety of Telitacicept in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Multicentre, Retrospective, Real-World Study

Lupus Sci. Med. 2023;10(2):e001074 DOI 10.1136/lupus-2023-001074

In this study, telitacicept add-on therapy demonstrated desirable real-world safety and efficacy profiles for the management of SLE, LN, and patients with haematological abnormalities.

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January 2024

Telitacicept in Patients with Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Results of A Phase 2b, Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Ann Rheum Dis. 2023; DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224854

This Phase 2 trial demonstrated the efficacy and acceptable safety profile of telitacicept in patients with SLE. The safety profile of telitacicept was comparable with that observed in clinical trials of other B cell-targeting agents.

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Burden of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Clinical Practice: Baseline Data from the SLE Prospective Observational Cohort Study (SPOCS) by Interferon Gene Signature

Lupus Sci Med. 2023; 10(2):e001032 DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2023-001032

This study from Arnaud et al described baseline characteristics of SLE patients grouped by disease activity and IFNGS category in the international SPOCS study. IFNGS-high patients were younger at SLE diagnosis, and a baseline SLEDAI-2K score ≥10 was associated with shorter disease duration, more frequent and more severe flares. IFNGS-low patients were more likely to exhibit musculoskeletal and CNS comorbidities than IFNGS-high patients. Continuation of the SPOCS study will allow investigation into how different baseline characteristics affect long-term outcomes in SLE patients.

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November 2023

Emerging Immunotherapeutic Strategies for Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: An Overview of Recent Phase 2 and 3 Clinical Trials

Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2023; 20:1-17 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2023.2273536 Epub ahead of print

Current treatments for refractory CLE are insufficient, often leading to suboptimal disease control, and demanding escalated therapies associated with systemic toxicities. However, recent Phase 2 & 3 trials offer promising results, suggesting new therapeutics approved for CLE are on the horizon.

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