Two consecutive trials of rituximab, a B-cell-depleting anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, have threatened the future of B-cell-targeted therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). While rumors of the demise of this approach might be greatly exaggerated, the outcomes of these studies should force academics and the pharmaceutical industry back to the drawing board.
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The author has acted as a consultant for Genentech, limited to attending a B cell summit meeting.
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Sanz, I. The conundrum of B cell depletion in SLE. Nat Rev Rheumatol 5, 304–305 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2009.100
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2009.100
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