Predictors of Treatment Response Among New Data on Stelara in SLE

Higher expression of nine genes may help identify people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who will respond to treatment with Stelara (ustekinumab) -- an approved therapy in inflammatory disorders but not in SLE. At the 2019 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/Association for Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP) Annual Meeting, being held in Atlanta Nov. 8-13, Janssen is presenting evidence of reduced SLE disease activity with Stelara, as well as a tool to predict benefits in clinical trials. Stelara works by blocking interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, two pro-inflammatory molecules. It is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are two forms of inflammatory bowel disease. Results from a Phase 2 trial (NCT02349061) showed that Stelara reduced SLE disease activity and severe flares, among other benefits, compared with a placebo.