New Study Shows the Drug Lenalidomide is Safe and Effective for Treating Lupus of the Skin

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

New research shows that lenalidomide, a drug approved for use in treating a blood cell cancer, was shown to be a safe and effective treatment for lupus of the skin that has not responded to other drugs. Lenalidomide is derived from the drug thalidomide which has been shown effective in treating lupus of the skin but with significant side effects and frequent relapses after treatment stops. Published in Arthritis Research & Therapy, the study showed that side effects were mild but most patients did relapse when the drug was discontinued.