Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Anifrolumab in Moderate-to-Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, which poses significant challenges due to its chronic nature and complex clinical manifestations. For patients with moderate-to-severe SLE, anifrolumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets the type 1 interferon receptor (IFNAR), has emerged as a cutting-edge treatment option that can reduce disease activity, prevent organ damage from the illness or side effects resulting from medications, and enhance the quality of life for those living with SLE. Consequently, this drug has received approval from major regulatory agencies. Anifrolumab's safety, effectiveness, and long-term results are assessed in this systematic review using information from clinical trials, real-world research, and retrospective analysis. In particular, clinical investigations, such as the MUSE Phase II and TULIP Phase III trials, showed that anifrolumab significantly improved important outcomes compared to placebo, including the SLE Responder Index, major clinical response, and disease activity ratings. During extended use, anifrolumab demonstrated significant sustained efficacy and a tolerable safety profile, with controllable side events mostly associated with viral infections. Moreover, subgroup analyses, demonstrating that Asian patients and individuals with a strong interferon gene profile are particularly responsive to anifrolumab, underscore the importance of customized treatment methods. Anifrolumab's safety and effectiveness were further validated by real-world data, particularly in patients who reached the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS), where the drug decreased glucocorticoid consumption and disease activity. Overall, anifrolumab shows great promise as a treatment for moderate-to-severe SLE, providing significant efficacy together with a manageable safety profile. To fully explore its therapeutic potential and optimize therapy approaches for the management of SLE, further research is necessary, especially in lupus nephritis and other disease subsets.