Current use and development of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: a review.

Abstract

The development of targeted drugs for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a promising area of research because targeted drugs are associated with a lower risk of severe side effects than systemic drugs. There are only two approved drugs based on monoclonal antibodies (a group of targeted drugs) for the treatment of SLE, so there is an unmet need for the development of new and improved antibody analogs. This review analyzes the effectiveness and safety of both already approved antibodies (anifrolumab and belimumab) for the treatment of SLE and antibodies under development with an assessment of their future prospects for entering the pharmaceutical market. In addition to the antibodies themselves, the choice of their therapeutic targets and what role the targets can play in the effectiveness and safety of the antibodies are analyzed here.