Medicine Grand Rounds, Saira Sheikh “BAFFling New Lupus Therapies – Looking to the Future After Decades of Failed Clinical Trials”

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, debilitating autoimmune disease with heterogeneous manifestations ranging from scarring skin rash or arthritis to severe, organ-threatening involvement of the kidneys, heart, lungs or central nervous system. SLE is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against nuclear antigens, which are thought to be caused by dysregulation of the immune system. Development of new therapies is critical due to unmet needs associated with SLE, including inadequate disease control, poor health-related quality of life, medication toxicities and increased morbidity and mortality.

One challenge in caring for patients with SLE is a lack of approved and efficacious medications. Randomized controlled trials evaluating novel biologic immune modulators in SLE have been largely unsuccessful at achieving the primary endpoints needed for FDA approval. Efforts to develop therapies against specific molecular targets in SLE has resulted in the identification of BAFF (B-cell activating factor) inhibitors to treat the disease. This talk will provide a summary of that journey and a brief overview of what’s on the horizon for SLE therapies.

Dr. Saira Sheikh is an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of Clinical Trials Program at the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center and Director of the UNC Rheumatology Lupus Clinic. Dr. Sheikh’s work has been focused on building a Collaborative Lupus Clinical & Research Program that directly impacts the care of patients. She is working on a national level to develop programs that address racial disparities in lupus clinical trials.