Challenges in bringing the bench to bedside in drug development for sle

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can involve any organ system, most commonly joints, skin and kidneys.The hallmark of SLE is a diverse but characteristic set of autoantibodies that can bind to both intracellular and extracellular structures.Current management of SLE is not evidence-based; many drugs remain unapproved by the FDA for lupus, understudied and substandard with regard to optimal administration, dosing and monitoring.Current models of lupus pathogenesis have provided a theoretical framework for understanding how heterogenous genetic defects might combine in various ways to increase susceptibility to SLE in different individuals.Targeted immune therapies raise both hopes and concerns for SLE patients. Further development of targeted immune-modulating therapies will lead to safer and more specific treatments for SLE; however, caution is advised in a population already at increased risk for thrombosis, vasculitis and atherosclerosis.