Table 1 Summary of potential novel therapeutic options and biologics for SLE

Rituximab

Chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody

257 SLE patients with moderately-to-severely active disease ( ≥1BILAG A score or ≥2 BILAG B scores)

B cell apoptosis or lysis

Explorer

144 patients with class III or class IV lupus nephritis

Lunar

Belimumab

Humanized anti-BLyS monoclonal antibody

865 seropositive SLE patients with SELENA-SLEDAI score ≥6. Severeactive lupus nephritis and severe CNS disease excluded.

BLyS inhibition blocks soluble BLys and prevents binding to B cellreceptor

Bliss-52

819 seropositive SLE patients with SELENA-SLEDAI score ≥6. Severeactive lupus nephritis & severe CNS disease excluded.

Bliss-76

Blisibimod

Anti-BLyS antagonist fusion protein

Active SLE

BLyS inhibition blocks soluble BLys and prevents binding to B cellreceptor

Pearl-sc

Atacicept

Recombinant fusion protein to TACI-Ig

SLE excluding lupus nephritis.

Inhibition of B cell activation by BLys and APRIL

Phase II/III

Lupus nephritis study discontinued due to reports of increasedinfection.

Epratuzumab

Humanized anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody

227 moderate to severe SLE patients.

B cell apoptosis

Emblem

Moderate to severe SLE patients excluding severe renal andneuropsychiatric disease.

Embody

Abatacept

CTL4-Ig fusion protein

SLE with polyarthritis, discoid lesions, or pleuritis and/orpericarditis.

Blockade of co-stimulatory interaction of T and B lymphocytes

Phase III

Data reanalyzed for lupus nephritis

Tocilizumab

Humanized anti-IL6 receptor monoclonal antibody

SLE patients with mild-to-moderate disease activity.

Inhibition of membrane bound and soluble IL-6 receptor

Phase I

Sifalimumab

Humanized anti-IFNα monoclonal antibody

Moderately active SLE.

Inhibition of type I IFN signature

Phase II

Rontalizumab

A recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody to IFN-α

Moderate to severe non-renal SLE