N. Engl. J. Med. 382, 211–221 (2020)

A phase 3 drug trial of treating systemic lupus erythematosus with anifrolumab, an antibody that prevents signaling through the receptor for type I interferons, resulted in a clinically meaningful response in close to half of the people treated.

Lupus is a heterogeneous systemic autoimmune disease that can lead to organ failure. There is no cure, but treatment includes alleviation of symptoms. The pathogenesis of this disease is known to be linked to the interferon pathway; however, this knowledge is yet to result in the development of a successful therapy.

The TULIP-2 trial included 362 patients, of which 182 received anifrolumab and 180 received a placebo. The treatment was able to induce a response in 48% of those treated, including a reduction in the glucocorticoids these people needed to take and the severity of their skin disease.