Evidence To-Date Finds Belimumab Safe and Effective for the Treatment of Lupus

In an analysis of seven different drug trial results, researchers found belimumab (Benlysta®) combined with standard therapy significantly decreased lupus disease activity compared with placebo and standard therapy. (A placebo is an inactive pill, liquid, or powder that has no treatment value. In clinical trials, experimental treatments are often compared with placebos to assess the treatment's effectiveness.)

The data also showed that belimumab reduced prednisone doses by at least 50% compared to placebo and was associated with significantly higher Physical Component Summary scores, suggesting an improvement in overall health. Researchers did not observe any significant safety concerns with the drug.

Belimumab was the first FDA-approved medication specifically designed for the treatment of lupus. Learn what you need to know about belimumab.

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