Conditions: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Keywords: Subcutaneous Lupus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SLE Belimumab Autoimmune Disease Antibodies
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 839
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of belimumab administered subcutaneously (SC) to adult subjects with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Detailed description:
This is a Phase 3, multi-center, international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 52-week study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of belimumab administered subcutaneously (SC) (200 mg weekly) in adult subjects with active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Approximately 816 SLE subjects will be randomized, with a target of about 544 subjects receiving belimumab and 272 subjects receiving placebo. Subjects completing the 52-week double-blind period can enter a 6-month open-label extension in which all subjects receive belimumab 200 mg SC weekly.

Arms:
arm 1: Placebo SC plus standard therapy; placebo administered on Day 0 and then weekly (ie, every 7 days) through Week 51, with final evaluation at Week 52 in the double-blind period. In the open-label extension period, placebo subjects who opt to participate will receive belimumab 200 mg SC weekly for an additional 6-months. arm 2: Belimumab 200 mg SC plus standard therapy; belimumab administered on Day 0 and then weekly (ie, every 7 days) through Week 51, with a final evaluation at Week 52 in the double-blind period. In the open-label extension period, subjects who opt to participate will continue on the same dose of belimumab for an additional 6-months.

Interventions: intervention 1: Placebo intervention 2: Belimumab 200 mg SC intervention 3: Standard therapy
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Placebo intervention 2: Belimumab 200 mg SC intervention 3: Standard therapy comprises any of the following (alone or in combination): corticosteroids, antimalarials, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and immunosuppressives; biologics and intravenous cyclophosphamide are not permitted.

Protocol document: