A new, controlled, non-immunosuppressive therapeutic approach to immunomodulation of lupus disease

Autoimmune diseases are the consequence of an immune response against the organism itself, abnormally considered as foreign. A prototype of autoimmune diseases, SLE is characterized by an inflammatory state and various forms of damage to healthy tissues. Current treatments are mainly based on immunosuppressive drugs, with numerous side effects. There is therefore an urgent need to develop safe and effective strategies to control this complex syndrome. In this context, the synthetic peptide P140/Lupuzor is a very promising drug candidate. This phosphopeptide demonstrated its efficacy in a Phase IIb clinical trial and will shortly be evaluated in a Phase III trial. It is not an immunosuppressant. It targets autoreactive T helper lymphocytes, thereby reducing the differentiation of autoreactive B cells and, consequently, the level of circulating autoantibodies. Our recent findings concerning its mechanism of action give us a better understanding of how a single peptide can control such a heterogeneous systemic disease and exert its remarkable activity in patients suffering from this particularly disabling autoimmune disorder.