EULAR 2026 Editors' Top Picks

State of the Art REVIEW

Table 2 | Trials of novel treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis. Products highlighted in green have received regulatory approval for use in systemic lupus erythematosus or lupus nephritis

No of patients Primary outcome measure

Agent (target)

Inclusion criteria

Result*

Reference

117

DHEA/prasterone (sex hormones)

SLAM score >7

120

Mean change from baseline in SLAM score Quantitatively specified improvement of the principal severe lupus manifestation no clinical deterioration + improvement or stabilization in two disease activity measures (SLEDAI†, SLAM) and 2 quality of life measures (PtGA and Krupp Fatigue Severity Scale). Major clinical response (BILAG C scores or better in all organs without severe flare) Proportion of patients with a new BILAG defined flare Per cent change in SELENA–SLEDAI score and time to first mild/moderate or severe flare

DHEA -2.6 +/- 3.4; PBO 2.0 +/- 3.8

118

Severe active lupus

21

DHEA 7/9 patients versus PBO 4/10 patients (P< 0.10)

119

SLAM score >7 or SLEDAI >2

381

DHEA 51.3%; PBO 42.2% (P=0.074).

Rituximab 15.9%, PBO 12.4%; P=0.97 5 120

Rituximab (CD20)

>1 BILAG A or >2 BILAG B score

257

121

Abatacept (CD28, via CTLA4) BILAG defined active polyarthritis discoid lesions or pleuritis/pericarditis 118

Abatacept 79.7%, PBO 82.5%; (treatment difference –3.5 (95% CI 15.3 to 8.3) Belimumab −19.5% + 2.7 versus PBO: −17.2% + 5 .1 Belimumab 58%, PBO 44%, odds ratio 1.83 (1.30 to 2.59), P=0·0006. Belimumab 43.2% versus PBO 33.5%; P=0.017 No difference between treatment arms (numerical results not reported) PBO 21% versus epratuzumab 200 mg/mo (30.8%), 800 mg/mo (26.3%), 2400 mg/mo 43.2%; P=0.148. PBO 34.1%, 1200 mg every other week 39.8% (P=0.175 versus placebo), and epratuzumab 600 mg every week 37.5% (P=0.442 ) PBO 33.5%, 1200 mg every other week 34.1% (P=0.899 versus placebo), and epratuzumab 600 mg every week 35.2% (P=0.716) PBO 29.3%, 120 mg Q2W 31.8% and 120 mg Q4W 35.2% (P>0.05) PBO 27.7%, 120 mg Q2W 38.4% (=0.002), 120 mg Q4W 34.8% (p=0.051 ) PBO 44.0%, atacicept 75 mg 57.8% (adjusted odds ratio 1.78; 95% CI 1.01 to 3.12), P=0.045, atacicept 150 mg 53.8% (adjusted PBO 35.3%, blisibimod 37.2%, P=0.635 PBO 42.3%, blisibimod 46.9%, P=0.35 2 PBO 41.8%, rontalizumab 45.5%, P=0.60 PBO 45.4%, sifaljmumab 200 mg 58.3% (P=0.057), 600 mg 56.5% (P=0.094), 1200 mg 59.8% (P=0.0 31) PBO 17.6%, anifrolumab 300 mg 34.3%, odds ratio 2.38 (1.33–4.26), P=0.014; anifrolumab 1000 mg 28.8%, odds ratio 1.94 (1.08–3.49), P=0.0 63 PBO 40%, anifrolumab 300 mg 36%; difference −4.2 (95% CI −14.2 to 5.8), P=0·41 PBO 31.5%, anifrolumab 300 mg 47.8%, adjusted difference 16.3 (6.3 to 26.3); P=0. 001 odds ratio 1.56; 95% CI 0.89 to 2.72), P=0.121

1 22

Belimumab (BAFF)

SLEDAI >4

449

123

SLEDAI >6 and seropositive

867

SRI(4)‡

124

SLEDAI >6 and seropositive

819

SRI(4)

125

Edratide (hCDR1)

SLEDAI 6-12

340

Reduction in SLEDAI 2K and adjusted mean SLEDAI 2K

126

Epratuzumab (CD22)

>1 BILAG A or >2 BILAG B and SLEDAI >6 >1 BILAG A or >2 BILAG B and SLEDAI K >6 and seropositive

227

BICLA

12 7

793

BICLA

127

>1 BILAG A or >2 BILAG B and SLEDAI K >6 and seropositive

791

BICLA

128

Tabalumab (BAFF)

SLEDAI >6 and seropositive

1164 SRI(5)

12 9

SLEDAI >6 and seropositive

1124 SRI(5)

130

Atacicept (BAFF/APRIL )

SLEDAI >6 and seropositive

306

SRI(4)

131

Blisibimod (BAFF)

SLEDAI >6 and seropositive

547

SRI(5)

13 2

SLEDAI >10 and seropositive

442

SRI(6)

133

Rontalizumab (interferon alfa )

>1 BILAG A or >2 BILAG B and seropositive

238

Reduction in all BILAG A to B or less, and/or B to C or less

Sifalimumab (interferon alfa) SLEDAI >6 and >1 BILAG A or >2 BILAG B and PGA >1 and seropositive 432

134

1 35

Anifrolumab (IFN AR)

SLEDAI >6 plus BILAG >1A or >2B plus PGA >1 and seropositive

307

SRI(4) plus glucocorticoid taper

113

SLEDAI >6 plus BILAG >1A or >2B plus PGA >1 and seropositive SLEDAI >6 plus BILAG >1A or >2B plus PGA >1 and seropositive

457

SRI(4)

112

362

BICLA

( Continued )

6 

doi: 10.1136/bmj-2022-073980 | BMJ 2023;383:073980 | the bmj

Powered by