Anifrolumab Shows Promise in Real-World Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treatment

Published: March 2, 2026

At 6 months, more than a quarter of patients achieved remission, and 66% reached low disease activity, according to data published in The Lancet Rheumatology . The findings can inform personalized treatment strategies and contribute to refining systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) therapy.

Anifrolumab yielded positive outcomes, including remission in 26% of patients, at 6 months across a real-world, multicenter cohort of patients with SLE.

Study Details

Researchers, led by Chiara Tani, MD, from the rheumatology unit at the University of Pisa in Italy, performed an interim analysis of REVEAL, a 5-year, ongoing multicenter prospective study of adults in Italy with active SLE.

The analysis included data from 236 patients (mean age, 46.9 years) who received anifrolumab for SLE. At 6 months, complete data were available for 140 patients. The mean disease duration was 11 years.

The main indications for anifrolumab treatment were mucocutaneous (67%) and articular (49%) involvement.

Key Findings

The primary outcome measure was the number of patients reaching clinical remission or a lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS). LLDAS was defined as a prednisone-equivalent dose of 7.5 mg or less per day, while LLDAS5 included a prednisone-equivalent dose of 5 mg or less per day.

At 6 months:

• 26% of patients had achieved remission.
• 66% reached LLDAS.
• 57% of patients reached LLDAS5.

Researchers reported 108 complications at 6 months, with 83 being infection-related. Five were deemed serious complications, and six patients required hospitalization during the study period.

Clinical Implications

“Collectively, these data provide valuable insights into the early treatment response, safety profile and glucocorticoid-sparing effect of anifrolumab in a heterogeneous SLE population that reflects daily clinical practice, supporting its integration into routine care not only for patients with mucocutaneous and joint involvement, but also for those with complex phenotypes and overlapping syndromes,” Tani and colleagues wrote.

“These findings can inform personalized treatment strategies and contribute to refining therapeutic algorithms in SLE.”