New therapeutics in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to discuss new therapeutics in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We will concentrate on both approved and unapproved treatments that were published during the last year.

Recent findings: Efforts have focused on the optimization of the use of Belimumab and Rituximab using information generated previously in clinical trials and the development of small new drugs inhibitors of the proteasome and immune cell signaling molecules such as Btk, ROCK and CaMK4. We cannot predict which biologics are going to be effective in humans, as many of the biologics that provide significant benefit in preclinical trials and lupus-prone mice have often proved noneffective in clinical trials. We now realize that lupus-prone mice do not represent human SLE. Yet, genetic or treatments studies in mice are valuable and help us to understand the role of immune or biochemical abnormalities identified in patients in a whole organism.

Summary: 2012 was an exciting year for the field of novel therapeutics in SLE and was signified by the effort to target specific signaling pathways with small molecules and biological agents.