Intravenous Treatment with Benlysta Slows Organ Damage in People with Lupus
People with lupus treated with intravenous (administered into vein) Benlysta (belimumab) experience reduced organ damage progression versus standard therapy alone. In a new study, those treated intravenously with the drug were 60% less likely to see lupus-related organ damage over 5 years.
The outcomes of participants from the Belimumab International Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Study (BLISS) were compared with standard therapy treated patients from the Toronto Lupus Cohort. The BLISS group received either Benlysta 1 mg/kg intravenously or Benlysta 10 mg/kg intravenously every 4 weeks. The outcomes of all individuals were scored against sixteen clinical variables. Those receiving intravenous Benlysta saw a 3.1% annual probability of organ damage progression versus 7.5% of standard therapy alone recipients.
“This research offers hope to lupus patients not responding to usual care with an effective and safe medication,” shared lead study author Murray Urowitz MD, FRCP.
This analysis adds to growing information on Benlysta and lupus treatment best practices. Learn about treatments being studied for lupus.