GSK provides 10-year data on Benlysta in lupus

On the penultimate day of the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR), Britain's largest pharma company GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) has provided data from a 10-year continuation study of Benlysta (belimumab).

The data show that Benlysta, in combination with prednisone, the standard of care in active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), prolonged control of disease activity.

Benlysta is a biologic medicine specifically developed and approved for SLE and this is the longest study to measure efficacy and safety of an SLE therapy.

David Roth, development lead for immunoscience, said: “Unlike most treatments used for SLE, belimumab has a specific mode of action that targets the underlying disease process.”

“It has consistently proven its effectiveness, with four successful pivotal trials in SLE and data now shows that the disease control is sustained, helping to stabilise day-to-day symptoms and improve outcomes for patients in the longer-term.”

The data show that the percentage of those responding to treatment with belimumab increased over time, with an overall response of 65.1% after a decade of treatment.

Patients were able to decrease their corticosteroid dose over time, an important goal in SLE management as corticosteroid use is associated with significant side effects.

The prevalence rate of AEs and SAEs also remained relatively stable over time and consistent with the known profile for belimumab.

As there is no matched-control group, no treatment comparison for the long-term efficacy and safety data can be made.

Lupus erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory disease of the connective tissue, affecting the skin and various internal organs including the heart, lungs and brain.