BEAT Lupus – Safety and efficacy of Belimumab after B cell depletion therapy in systemic LUPUS erythematosus
Principal Investigator: Dr Al Jayyousi
Study start date: March 2017
BEAT Lupus is a clinical trial testing the safety and effectiveness of a combination of two medications to reduce systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which proteins produced by a person’s immune system (B cells) attack their own tissues. This may affect multiple organs. The severity and pattern of organs affected may vary between affected patients.
For patients who have active lupus that is resistant to conventional treatments, B cell depletion therapy with a medicine called Rituximab has been given, in accordance with NHS England guidelines. However, while successive treatments with Rituximab have been shown to lead to temporary improvements for patients, this was often followed by worsening flare-ups.
Patients who consent to take part in the BEAT Lupus study will be randomly assigned to either receive a medicine called Belimumab or a placebo (that looks like Belimumab but does not contain any active ingredients) at 4 to 8 weeks after the first B cell depletion therapy infusion. The total treatment period (Belimumab or placebo) will be 52 weeks followed by a 1-month safety follow up visit.
This study is now closed.
For more information and publications from the trial, visit: https://beatlupus.uk/