After a 52-Year Struggle... A New Therapy for Lupus

摘要

Benlysta (belimumab) is the first medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of lupus since the Eisenhower administration! Benlysta is the first in a new class of drugs called BLyS-specific inhibitors. These drugs inhibit the activity of B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS). In autoimmune disease, elevated levels of BLyS may contribute to an individual's production of autoanti-bodies, antibodies that damage or destroy the body's own organs. Other medications approved for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) include Plaquenil (hydroxycholquine), pred-nisone, and aspirin. It is easy to recognize the significance of this new medication.