Conditions: Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Keywords: SLE
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 449
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 3 different doses of belimumab, administered in addition to standard therapy, in patients with active SLE disease.

Detailed description:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of three different doses of belimumab (1 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg), administered in addition to standard therapy, compared to placebo plus standard therapy in patients with active SLE disease. Patients were randomly assigned, following stratification by the screening SELENA SLEDAI score (4 to 7 versus ≥ 8), to 1 of the 4 study arms (3 active arms and 1 placebo arm plus standard therapy for SLE). All patients were to be dosed on Days 0, 14, and 28, then every 28 days for the remainder of 52 weeks. Patients completing the 52-week period could enter a 24-week open-label extension; belimumab patients received the same dose or were switched to 10 mg/kg at the investigator's discretion and former placebo patients received belimumab 10 mg/kg.

Arms:
arm 1: None arm 2: None arm 3: None arm 4: None

Interventions: intervention 1: Placebo intervention 2: Belimumab 1 mg/kg intervention 3: Belimumab 4 mg/kg intervention 4: Belimumab 10 mg/kg
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Placebo IV plus standard therapy (SOC) for SLE; placebo administered on Days 0, 14, 28, and every 28 days thereafter through 52 weeks in the double-blind period. In the open-label extension period, placebo patients who opted to participate received belimumab 10 mg/kg IV plus SOC every 28 days for an additional 24 weeks. intervention 2: Belimumab 1 mg/kg IV plus standard therapy (SOC) for SLE; belimumab 1 mg/kg administered on Days 0, 14, 28, and every 28 days thereafter through 52 weeks in the double-blind period. In the open-label extension period, patients who opted to participate either continued on the same dose of belimumab or may have been switched to belimumab 10 mg/kg at the investigator's discretion for an additional 24 weeks. intervention 3: Belimumab 4 mg/kg IV plus standard therapy (SOC) for SLE; belimumab 4 mg/kg administered on Days 0, 14, 28, and every 28 days thereafter through 52 weeks in the double-blind period. In the open-label extension period, patients who opted to participate either continued on the same dose of belimumab or may have been switched to belimumab 10 mg/kg at the investigator's discretion for an additional 24 weeks. intervention 4: Belimumab 10 mg/kg IV plus standard therapy (SOC) for SLE; belimumab 10 mg/kg administered on Days 0, 14, 28, and every 28 days thereafter through 52 weeks in the double-blind period. In the open-label extension period, patients who opted to participate continued on belimumab 10 mg/kg for an additional 24 weeks.

Protocol document: