ABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that has been difcult to treat. Because no new therapies have been approved for decades, the potential for new biologic agents that are active in this disease represents an exciting opportunity. Potential targets include B cells or T cells, growth factors, costimulatory molecules, cytokines, interferons, complement, and specic antigen reactivities. Several agents are in advanced stages of development, and positive results from pharmaceutical industry-sponsored randomized clinical trials could be forthcoming over the next several years. We will need to understand better the biology of these agents, and develop additional biomarkers to monitor their use. If a novel biologic
Abstract ....................................................................................................................85 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ...............................................................................86 Therapies ..................................................................................................................88
