US Pharm. 2011;36(4):8.
Gaithersburg, MD—The FDA has approved Benlysta (belimumab) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. It is the first new drug indicated for the autoimmune disorder since corticosteroids and Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) were approved in 1955. Two clinical studies involving 1,684 patients with lupus demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of Benlysta, which is delivered via intravenous transfusion and targets B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) protein. Patients treated with Benlysta and standard therapies experienced less disease activity and had a reduced likelihood of severe symptom flares than those who received a placebo and standard therapies.
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