“… But late last year, researchers discovered what they believe to be the biggest breakthrough in lupus treatment in decades.

Remarkably, the drug, called anifrolumab, appears able to completely banish symptoms, such as the severe rash on the face and painful, swollen joints, and means patients can slash their use of dreaded steroids, or even come off them altogether.

Instead, they need only attend hospital once a month for a 30-minute injection of the liquid drug into a vein in the arm…”

https://mol.im/a/7876813

I just hope that the treatment cost in the US won't bankrupt the patients.

quote:

Originally posted by dgshooter:
I just hope that the treatment cost in the US won't bankrupt the patients.

Based on the name of the drug, it's a biologic. A monoclonal antibody (drugs that end in 'mab' usually are monoclonals). Very expensive to make and usually super high cost drugs.

That being said if it can stop Lupus then it's worth it. My ex wife lost her best friend to lupus when she was just teen.

It’s amazing what lupus can do to a body. My Neice is 25 and has had lupus for 6 years. They’ve tried everything to control it with little results. God willing this will work for her.

My BIL has it and it has devastated his body. Hope this will help

quote:

Originally posted by dgshooter:
I just hope that the treatment cost in the US won't bankrupt the patients.

I'm going to assume that you have never toured a biologic reactor manufacturing facility.

quote:

Very expensive to make and usually super high cost drugs.
That being said if it can stop Lupus then it's worth it.

Absolutely, if I had this I'd pay ANYTHING.

The drug is still in clinical trials. They hope for approval in late 2020. Pricing will be set after approval and it will be expensive as are all biologics. The proof of its efficacy will be after approval and thousands of patients begin taking the drug.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
The drug is still in clinical trials. They hope for approval in late 2020.

I read on Lupus.com said they plan to SUBMIT it for approval in 2nd half 2020. Doesn't approval often take years?

^^^^^^^
Depends. These days the FDA has sped up the process considerably. Some in the medical field complain that the real testing begins when it is released to the public. Vioxx is a good example of a drug being approved too quickly. The drug caused cardiac issues and it was pulled off the market five years later. Some drugs are fast tracked if they are deemed to be real breakthroughs.

I so hope this works, and hope even more it's affordable. I know two ladies that have lupus. Not being able to work normal jobs kind of means they're pretty poor, both are on medicaid.