World’S First New Dual-Targeted Lupus Drug Approved – Tetrasip
The philosopher Leibniz once said, “There are no two leaves in the world alike,” which also applies to patients with lupus erythematosus. In March 2021, the world’s first new class I biologic drug for the dual-targeted treatment of SLE, Tetrasip, was launched in China with conditions, bringing a boon to SLE patients.
Lupus erythematosus: a medical problem of unknown etiology
SLE is a typical autoimmune connective tissue disease, of which SLE is the most common, accounting for 70% of all patients, and is also the most serious type with complex clinical manifestations, involving multiple organs and systems, prone to relapse, difficult to cure, and life-threatening when the disease is serious, and is known as “the cancer that does not die “It is easily recurring, difficult to cure and life-threatening when the disease is serious.
The etiology of lupus erythematosus has not been completely clarified by scientists yet, and the specific conditions of patients vary widely.
Clinical studies have revealed that a variety of immune cells are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, with B-cell immunity being the core pathogenesis, and this has led to a boom in the development of B-cell targeted drugs. Until 2011, Belizumab was approved by the US FDA, opening a new chapter of biologics for the treatment of SLE, and this year, the launch of Tetrasip also brings more choices to patients.
“Dual-target” biologics
Belimumab is the first biologic agent targeting B-lymphocyte stimulating factor, while Taitaxip can not only inhibit B-lymphocyte stimulating factor, but also inhibit B-lymphocyte proliferation-inducing ligand, thus further affecting the differentiation and maturation of B-lymphocytes and more effectively reducing the body’s immune response to treat autoimmune diseases. It is suitable for adult patients with active, autoantibody-positive SLE who still have high disease activity on the basis of conventional treatment.
Cellular metabolism
Tetrasip is a fusion protein-based biologic, and scientists expect the metabolic pathway to be through a cellular metabolic pathway of degradation into small molecule peptides and amino acids by protein hydrolases that are widely distributed in the body, rather than through hepatic and renal metabolism. Therefore, it has relatively few side effects compared to other drugs, and no effect on the pharmacokinetics of tetrasip has been found when administered concomitantly with other drugs including corticosteroids, antimalarials, NSAIDs, other immunosuppressants or immunomodulators.
Conclusion
As a drug with a unique mechanism of action for the treatment of SLE, Taitaxip will hopefully bring new light to patients, and hopefully more safe and effective drugs will be developed to benefit more and more patients.