How might telitacicept fit into the existing treatment landscape for patients with SLE?

During the Lupus Hub Steering Committee meeting, held on October 17, 2023, Murray Urowitz chaired a discussion on how telitacicept might fit into the existing treatment landscape for patients with SLE, with contributions from Betty Diamond, Ricard Cervera, Manuel Francisco Ugarte-Gil, and James Cheng-Chung Wei.

The discussion begins with an overview of telitacicept's mechanism of action and clinical trial outcomes. It is acknowledged that telitacicept (an anti-BLyS and anti-APRIL agent) exhibits superior efficacy compared with belimumab (anti-BLyS drug), potentially reducing autoantibodies by blocking plasma cell differentiation. Ethnicity concerns are raised as the phase II and III studies were limited to China, highlighting the necessity for further research in other populations. Cost-effectiveness is also discussed, with emphasis on exploring combination therapy versus sequential therapy. Ianalumab is also acknowledged as a promising candidate for the treatment of SLE.