Intravenous belimumab combined with standard therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can help preserve kidney function in patients with active lupus nephritis and is associated with reduced renal morbidity and mortality, trial results show.

Patients on the therapy in the phase 3 trial had half the risk of a combined end point of death or a renal-related event, the results showed.

In the study, financed by GlaxoSmithKline, which helped collect, analyse and interpret the data, 448 patients were randomised to intravenous belimumab 10mg/kg or placebo at baseline, on days 15 and 29 and every 28 days thereafter in addition to standard therapy. 

Some 43% of those receiving belimumab showed a renal response compared with 32% of patients receiving placebo after two years on therapy.