Use of biologics in SLE: a review of the evidence from a clinical perspective

With the explosion in biologics use in rheumatology, newer and smarter ways of using these drugs in different diseases have been advocated. SLE has to date been at the back of the biologics algorithms. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Evaluation Agency licensed belimumab for use in SLE, the first drug in > 30 years. A clinical review of the evidence that underlies the use of belimumab and other biologics in SLE reveals possible reasons why the results are not as spectacular as they are in other diseases.