News Archives

Category: News

Catch Up on LRA News with Lupus Research Update Vol. 1, 2022

February 17, 2022 It’s with great pride that I share a sampling of the many extraordinary accomplishments of last year in our first Lupus Research Update of 2022. The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) made important gains on many fronts—thanks to tremendous friends like you. I hope you share my pride because your support continues to be the catalyst behind every LRA accomplishment. […] Read More

Lupus Research Alliance Congratulates Dr. Robert Califf on FDA Commissioner Appointment

February 17, 2022 The Lupus Research Alliance applauds the appointment of Dr. Robert Califf as the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We are confident that Dr. Califf’s world-class expertise in healthcare quality and outcomes as well as clinical research will well enable him to guide the FDA in fulfilling its mission, […] Read More

Encouraging Results with Obinutuzumab for Lupus Nephritis

February 13, 2022 The LRA is pleased to share a recently published paper reporting that the drug, obinutuzumab, showed positive results as a potential treatment for lupus nephritis in the phase 2 clinical trial NOBILITY. A medicine designed to attach a type of blood cell called B-cells with the marker CD20 on its surface, obinutuzumab […] Read More

LRA-Funded Research Aims at Preventing Heart Disease in Kids With Lupus

February 14, 2022 Being a kid isn’t always easy, but growing up with lupus makes it a much harder challenge. That’s why Harvard University’s Associate Professor Dr. Joyce Chang has a special place in her heart for these kids and chose to focus her career on their care. In honor of American Heart Month, we […] Read More

LRA-Funded Research Found a Connection Between the Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and MS as an Autoimmune Disease

February 4, 2022 A potential new cause of the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) was discovered by researchers partly funded by the Lupus Research Alliance. Published in the prestigious journal Nature, the study results provide strong evidence that a virus can trigger the development of MS. The LRA invested in this work to help understand […] Read More

Baricitinib Development as a Lupus Treatment Discontinued

January 28, 2022 The Lupus Research Alliance is disappointed that the Phase 3 development program of OLUMIANT® (baricitinib) as a potential treatment for adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been discontinued. The drug’s manufacturer Lilly made this decision based on results from two Phase 3 trials (SLE-BRAVE-I and II). While SLE-BRAVE-I showed a significant […] Read More

LRA-Funded Research Uncovers a Novel Pathway for Lupus Nephritis

January 28, 2022 The investigators from The Accelerated Medicines Partnership® Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (AMP® RA/SLE) Program, in collaboration with Drs. Chaim Putterman from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Chandra Mohan from the University of Houston, and the biotechnology company Equillium have discovered an immune pathway that plays an important role […] Read More

Lupus Research Alliance Launches Two Major Initiatives to Increase Participation of Underrepresented Minorities in Lupus Clinical Trials and Research

NEW YORK, NY. January 27 — The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) and clinical affiliate Lupus Therapeutics (LT) announced two major initiatives improving representation of minorities in clinical trials and the scientific research profession: Project CHANGE by LT and the Diversity in Lupus Research Program. The LRA has been addressing these disparities for many years and now proudly launches this […] Read More

Shingles Vaccine Recommended for Immunocompromised People

January, 2022 As of January, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of the vaccine Shingrix to prevent shingles and its complications in adults 19 years and older whose immune systems are weakened in addition to those adults 50 years and older whose immune systems are not compromised. Shingrix […] Read More

Lupus Research Alliance Announces 11 Exceptional Recipients of the 2021 Lupus Innovation Award

NEW YORK, NY, December 14, 2021. The Lupus Research Alliance proudly announced today recipients from the U.S. and around the world of the 2021 Lupus Innovation Award which will fund wide ranging areas of research from probing the development and progression of lupus to pointing to potential personalized therapies. The Lupus Innovation Award provides support […] Read More

FDA Authorizes Evusheld Emergency Use to Prevent COVID-19 in Immunocompromised Patients

December 9, 2021 People with lupus can be immunocompromised because of the disease itself or medications that suppress the immune system and some may not be adequately protected from COVID-19. A new treatment will soon be available for them. Evusheld was granted Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 prevention by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration […] Read More

Aurinia Announces Positive Long-Term Results on Lupykinis™ for Lupus Nephritis

December 9, 2021 The LRA is pleased to share positive topline three-year efficacy and safety results reported today by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals from the AURORA 2 continuation study of Lupkynis™ (voclosporin). These results provide the longest available data for an FDA-approved medicine in lupus nephritis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lupkynis arlier this year […] Read More