The FDA has announced the approval of Benlysta, promising discount prescriptions for the treatment of Lupus. The FDA approval is especially significant because Benlysta is the first prescription drug to be approved by the FDA since 1955. The new drug will give patients a new set of options above and beyond the accepted forms of treatment including aspirin, corticosteroids, antimalarials, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Benlysta will be marketed by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. The estimated cost per patient per year is $35,000.
Lupus Discount Prescriptions
To date, the clinical trials on Benlysta have been anemic and inconclusive. While some patients received relief from their symptoms, the African American population that participated in the trial experienced no relief. Experts say that more trials and studies need to be performed before any conclusions can be made about the prescription drug and its effectiveness.Lupus has been a mystery for many years. It is a serious, sometimes fatal, autoimmune disease that targets and attacks healthy tissues. The disease mainly affects women aged 15 to 44. Lupus affects various parts of one’s body including the skin, joints, lungs, kidneys, lungs, brain and heart. Flare ups in the disease may create joint pain, fever, light sensitivity, hair loss, chest pain and fatigue.
“Benlysta, when used with existing therapies, may be an important new treatment approach for health care professionals and patients looking to help manage symptoms associated with this disease” said Dr. Curtis Rosebraugh, Director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II.
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