Early trials of new lupus therapy showing promise

A new vaccine-like therapy that summons a host of antibodies to fight lupus has shown promise in early European trials, according to researchers.

There are very few options for treating the potentially fatal disease in which the body’s immune system is overactive and attacks healthy tissue, causing fatigue, swelling, ulcers, chest pain, organ and clotting problems.

The new treatment, developed by France-based biotechnology company Neovacs, neutralises a protein called interferon alpha, which is seen in higher amounts in lupus patients and may be a driver of chronic inflammation and autoimmunity.

“Their data looks very interesting,” said Joan Merrill, medical director of the Lupus Foundation of America, who was not involved in the research.

“It’s a fascinating idea to me, that you’re immunising yourself against an element of your immune system that is overreacting,” she said.

Injections of an immunotherapy called the Kinoid were shown to be safe in phase I/II trials on a small number of European patients, the company announced at the American College of Rheumatology Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

Patients developed antibodies against interferon alpha, with more such antibodies appearing in those who received higher doses.

“The injection of the Kinoid produces a reaction of the immune system, which results in the production of various antibodies which will neutralize the alpha interferon,” said chief executive officer Guy-Charles Fanneau de La Horie. The treatment consists of a trio of injections in the first month, followed by a shot every three to four months afterward.

The randomised trial was small – just 28 subjects – and it did not include any non-white participants, who will also need to be studied in case they show different responses to treatment.

More clinical trials are on the way, and a phase IIb study could begin by the middle of next year, said Piers Whitehead, Neovacs vice president of corporate development.

“We think a key advantage of our approach is we know that we can neutralise all 13 subtypes of interferon alpha with our product,” he said.