What’s New

Boston, MA — The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) and the Lupus Research Institute (LRI) launched the Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN) that will conduct clinical trials as part of the drug repositioning program LRxL-STAT at the American College of Rheumatology meeting. Commissioned by the ALR and LRI, and conducted in partnership with AMPEL Biosolutions, LRxL-STAT has identified and now will begin testing potential new treatments for lupus from among those approved for other human conditions.

The five highest priority candidates announced are: the small molecule quinacrine, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the complementary and alternative krill oil treatment, and Janssen’s biologic ustekinumab. An experimental treatment in development by Kadmon is also being considered for testing. LuCIN is comprised of over 50 academic lupus centers representing all geographic regions of the U.S.

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July 23 is a big day for Lupus patients – a new target for treatment has been identified. International attention was placed on the disease today in two articles. “Drugs for Treating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Global Markets” emphasized the growing number of Lupus patients year-by-year, and an article co-authored by AMPEL co-founder Dr. Peter Lipsky unveiled a novel pathway that could be targeted by drugs in development by pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Dr. Lipsky coordinated the scientific study published today in Science Translational Medicine, between his Charlottesville office and Peking Union Medical Center University in Beijing. Dr. Lipsky’s article was highlighted on the cover of the July 23 edition with a photograph of a growling wolf, a long-time symbol of this terrible disease.

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The Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) and the Lupus Research Institute (LRI) are excited to report rapid progress on the cooperative project we launched just months ago to fast-track scientific analysis and identification of potential new treatments for lupus. The lupus community participates with comments, ideas and input on the program’s dedicated LinkedIn site, LRxL STAT.

The proactive initiative focuses on identifying new treatments from among those that are approved for other conditions. We are encouraged that progress has been even more rapid and comprehensive than anticipated with 155 potential therapies analyzed and identified from an initial analysis of 6,800 therapies approved for human use. A prestigious expert committee will soon review these results and prioritize the best candidates for clinical trials in lupus.

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