Recent developments in biologic therapies for the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

SLE has a complex pathogenesis, and multiple therapeutic targets have been discovered in recent years. In spite of belimumab being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the widespread use of rituximab, there have been many failed attempts to treat SLE successfully using biologic agents. In this review, we consider newer biologic approaches that might offer the hope of improving the outcome of SLE patients. These include the fully humanized anti-CD20 mAbs, PEGylated anti-CD40L, IFNα inhibitors, rigerimod and immune complexes blockade.