For those of us who suffer from System Lupus Erythematosus, there is some encouraging news. According to Scientific American,  yesterday the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Benlysta (belimumab) for the treatment of the disease. Lupus is a mysterious disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues. Nearly all lupus patients experience some degree of joint pain, and some will face life-threatening complications including kidney failure, heart problems and difficulty in breathing. Belimumab is an antibody that interferes with the immune system’s assault by binding to and inhibiting a protein called the ‘B-lymphocyte stimulator’ (BLyS). Blocking BLyS is … Continue reading First Lupus Drug in 50 Years Approved by FDA