Benlysta helps lupus by reducing disease activity and flares and decreasing the need for steroid medications by up to 25%. Benlysta works for lupus by binding to a substance called BLyS, which helps B cells to survive for longer. When Benlysta is attached to BLyS, BLyS can no longer bind to and stimulate autoreactive B cells.
Autoreactive B cells are overactive B cells that attack normal tissue causing inflammation instead of just producing antibodies as normal B cells do. B cells are a type of lymphocyte, and an important part of our immune system and people with Lupus develop too many autoreactive B cells.