Subcutaneous Anifrolumab Effective in Lupus Save

A new study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology demonstrates that subcutaneous administration of anifrolumab provides efficacy comparable to intravenous administration, offering a promising alternative for at-home care of patients living with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These results suggest that subcutaneous delivery, which is less invasive and more accessible than intravenous infusions, could improve patient quality of life and expand treatment options for those with limited access to clinic-based therapies.

Study Background and Details

Researchers recruited patients with moderate-to-severe SLE from 140 sites in 15 countries. Participants were randomized to a fixed subcutaneous dose of anifrolumab (120 mg) or placebo once weekly for 52 weeks, and were monitored to evaluate safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the drug. An open-label extension of the study is still ongoing.

Key Findings

• Subcutaneous anifrolumab demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in SLE disease activity compared to placebo, suggesting that weekly subcutaneous anifrolumab has comparable efficacy to intravenous dosing.
• A greater proportion of patients treated with subcutaneous anifrolumab who were receiving baseline oral glucocorticoid dosages of ≥10 mg/day were able to taper to ≤7.5 mg/day by week 52.
• Serious adverse event rates were low, with no opportunistic infections occurring in patients treated with subcutaneous anifrolumab. Herpes zoster occurrence was greater with anifrolumab.

Implications for Patient Care

“These findings support subcutaneous anifrolumab as an effective, patient-friendly alternative to intravenous therapy for SLE,” said lead researcher, Susan Manzi, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Medicine Institute at Allegheny Health Network. “The comparable efficacy of subcutaneous anifrolumab means that patients may benefit from the convenience of at-home administration rather than requiring regular intravenous clinic visits. This could be particularly significant for those in remote areas or with difficulty accessing infusion centers, helping to remove barriers to ongoing care.”