What’s New
BENLYSTA now approved in Canada in addition to standard therapy for treatment of active lupus nephritis in adult patients
BENLYSTA (belimumab) has been approved in Canada for the treatment of active lupus nephritis (LN) in adult patients.[i] BENLYSTA is available as an intravenous infusion and a subcutaneous injection.
BENLYSTA has been available in Canada as an intravenous infusion since 2011 to reduce disease activity in adult patients with active, autoantibody-positive, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It was the first SLE-specific treatment approved in over 50 years. Since then, BENLYSTA has also been approved for subcutaneous injection. The recent approval extends the indication in Canada to include both LN and SLE.
BENLYSTA, a human monoclonal antibody, is the first and only biologic approved in Canada for systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis. This approval follows recent approvals in the US and EU for a similar expanded LN indication.
“Approximately 40% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus develop active lupus nephritis, which causes inflammation in the kidneys and can lead to end-stage kidney disease. BENLYSTA is the first medicine approved to reduce SLE activity and treat adults with active lupus nephritis. This approval symbolizes new hope to many of the thousands of Canadians living with lupus, a complex and incurable autoimmune disease,” said Marni Freeman, Interim Country Medical Director at GSK Canada. “We’re proud to bring forward this important treatment advance, not only for Canadian lupus patients seeking options but also for the healthcare professionals who treat them.”
“This represents a critical step forward for lupus patients in Canada, many Canadian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and active lupus nephritis should enjoy healthier and more active lifestyles with this new treatment alternative,” said Leanne Mielczarek, Executive Director, Lupus Canada.
To read the full Press Release please visit https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/benlysta-now-approved-in-canada-in-addition-to-standard-therapy-for-treatment-of-active-lupus-nephritis-in-adult-patients-815017415.html
Newest lupus drug in 60 years discovered in Canada, approved in USA
Lupus Canada is pleased to learn of the recent FDA approval of Lupkynis. While it is very exciting that new medications are being approved in the United States, with over 1 in 1000 Canadians living with lupus there is not enough treatment options within Canada. Being the only national organization dedicated to lupus research, advocacy, public awareness and patient support, we work to ensure all Canadian lupus patients have easy and equitable access to lupus specific medications. Lupus Canada strongly urges the Government of Canada to approve more options for lupus drugs like Lupkynis to better support Canadians living with lupus. A made in Canada treatment to lupus, must be available to Canadians living with lupus.
Lupus Canada Informational Survey
Lupus Canada shared a survey with our lupus community to gather information about lupus patients experiences with symptoms of lupus. This information is not for research but will be used to support and inform applications to Health Canada by pharmaceutical companies as part the regulatory requirements to bring drugs to market. The survey results are summarized without identifiers. This data will be shared with pharmaceutical companies to support applications for drug approval to Health Canada. The survey results may help regulators and health technology assessment bodies to understand what the benefit of new treatments is and who would benefit most from them, thereby improving their ability to make new treatments available for people with lupus. Please click on the link below to view the survey results.
https://lupuscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/Informational-Survey-Results.pdf
Ontario’s leading arthritis centre – “The Arthritis Program” (TAP) at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ontario – will be closing on January, 2021, leaving TAP patients stranded and lost in the middle of a pandemic. To learn more please watch the video below.