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WASHINGTON — LFA - Research scientists and physicians - including scientific thought leaders from university centers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other government agencies - will address two important gaps impeding approval of new treatments for the autoimmune disease lupus during the Lupus Foundation of America's (LFA) 2nd International Flare Conference June 5 and 6 in suburban Washington, DC. These experts will discuss modifications to tools used to monitor disease progression and how lupus patients respond to treatment. They also will work to develop a consensus definition of a lupus flare, which is an increase in disease activity.
It has been difficult to define a lupus flare because the disease manifests itself in diverse ways in different people, affects multiple organ systems, and can increase and decrease in severity from one day to another. Accurately and consistently measuring a flare is crucial to monitoring progression of the disease in patients and to evaluating the effectiveness of treatment over time.
"This effort is part of the LFA's strategy aimed at bringing down barriers that have obstructed progress on research and to advance the science of lupus," said Sandra Raymond, LFA President & CEO. "The fact that no new drug therapies have been approved for lupus in more than four decades underscores the need to address issues and answer questions that have impeded the successful outcome of clinical trials of new, safe and effective therapies for the disease."
Without new approved drugs specifically for lupus, physicians must rely on therapies borrowed from other diseases. Many are highly toxic, causing side effects that can be worse than the primary disease. The LFA is working to bridge gaps in lupus research to stimulate additional public and private investment in the development and approval of new lupus treatments.
About Lupus
Lupus is the result of an unbalanced immune system that can be destructive to any organ or tissue in the body. Lupus is unpredictable and potentially fatal, yet no satisfactory treatment exists. More than 1.5 million Americans, and at least five million people worldwide, have a form of the disease. The health consequences of lupus include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and organ failure.
About the LFA
The Lupus Foundation of America is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and for providing support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus. The LFA and its network of nearly 300 chapters, branches, and support groups conduct programs of research, education, and advocacy.
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