GlaxoSmithKline Treatment for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Shows Promise

BioTrends Research Group, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, finds that physicians currently using GlaxoSmithKline/Human Genome Science’s Benlysta (belimumab) for their moderate-to-severe SLE patients are highly satisfied with its clinical response. Surveyed rheumatologists rate their satisfaction with Benlysta an 8.4 on a scale of 1 to 10 (‘1’ is ‘Not at all satisfied’ and ‘10’ is ‘Extremely satisfied’), which was the highest rating compared to other immunosuppressants used to treat lupus. Benlysta was approved by the FDA in March of last year, which is the first newly approved agent for SLE in approximately 50 years. The findings come from the recent, ChartTrends: Lupus US report in which 184 rheumatologists in the United States were surveyed and reported on a total of 1,044 moderate-to-severe SLE patient charts; 175 charts were for Benlysta patients.