The actual benefit may be greater than the research shows, because many of the patients receiving the placebo in the study crossed over to more activetherapy.
The studies diagnosed patients with active lupus and randomized them to receive Benlysta plus standard therapy, or an inactive infused solution (placebo) plus standard therapy.
The studies excluded patients who had received prior B-cell targeted therapy or intravenous cyclophosphamide, and those who had active lupus involving the kidneys or central nervous system.
This orientation likens therapy to a pill, which has unique ingredients that have been shown to have more potency than active ingredients of other drugs.