Benlysta : First New Lupus Drug in 50 Years
For the 1st time in about fifty years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accredited a brand new drug for lupus, a breakthrough drug called Benlysta (belimumab).
Lupus or SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) is surely an autoimmune disorder that influences at least 1.5 million Americans and much more than 5 million people around the world. Lupus will cause the body’s immune system to assault healthy tissue and organs.
According to MayoClinic, Lupus symptoms that you experience will depend on which body systems are affected by the disease. But, in general, lupus signs and symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss or gain
- Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
- Butterfly-shaped rash (malar rash) on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose
- Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure
- Mouth sores
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods (Raynaud’s phenomenon)
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dry eyes
- Easy bruising
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Memory loss
The FDA approval of Benlysta is really a watershed achievement for lupus drug investigation. Benlysta just isn’t only the very first lupus drug to be accredited by the FDA in more than fifty years, it truly is the very first drug that will particularly target and block BLyS autoimmune-antibodies.

