Systemic Lupus Erythematosus | Treatment Algorithms | Claims Data Analysis | US | 2014
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease affecting multiple organ systems, manifesting at various levels of severity, and involving periods of remission and relapse. The autoimmune reactions that characterize SLE can result in severe organ damage and, in some instances, ultimately lead to death. Antimalarial agents are the recommended first-line treatment for all patients regardless of disease severity or clinical manifestation. In 2011, IV belimumab (GlaxoSmithKline’s Benlysta) became the first drug approved for SLE in more than 50 years, highlighting the difficulty of successfully bringing agents to market to treat this multifactorial disease. This report uses national patient-level claims data to explore the use of key therapies in newly diagnosed SLE patients with a quantitative analysis of treatment patterns and share by line of therapy, as well as progression between lines, duration of treatment on each line, and use of concomitant treatment. Among recently treated patients, we quantify a drug’s source of business compared with its competitors and detail which drugs precede others through an analysis of add-versus-switch patterns. Additional analyses explore persistency and compliance by brand.