Systemic Lupus Erythematosus | Treatment Algorithms | Claims Data Analysis | US | 2015
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease affecting multiple organ systems, manifesting at various levels of severity, and involving periods of flare-up and remission. The autoimmune reactions that characterize SLE can result in severe organ damage and, in some instances, lead to death. Antimalarial agents are the recommended first-line treatment for all patients regardless of disease severity or clinical manifestation because they help control inflammation, prevent disease flares, and minimize the buildup of organ damage. 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 to market agents to treat this multifactorial disease. This report uses national patient-level claims data to explore the use of key therapies to treat newly diagnosed SLE, including a quantitative analysis of treatment patterns and share by line of therapy, progression between lines, duration of treatment on each line, and use of concomitant treatment. The report also quantifies a drug’s source of business compared with its competitors among recently treated SLE patients and details which drugs precede others by analyzing add-versus-switch patterns. Additional analyses explore persistency and compliance by brand.