Table 1. Recent SLE randomized, controlled trials of biologics.

Reference	Size	Study drug	Endpoint	Select findings
Merrill et al. [21]	257	Rituximab	BILAG MCR/PCR* at 52 weeks	No significant difference in primary and secondary endpoints; subgroup analysis suggests benefit in black and Hispanic subjects
Merrill et al. [22]	180	Abatacept	BILAG flare by 1 year	No significant difference in primary and secondary endpoints; post hoc subgroup analysis suggests higher fraction of treated subjects on low dose prednisone without flare during final 2 months of study
Chatham et al. [23]	449	Belimumab	SELENA-SLEDAI at 52 weeks	No significant difference in primary and secondary endpoints; post hoc subgroup analysis suggests benefit in seropositive subjects as measured by novel SLE responder index

*MCR = all BILAG Cs or better in every organ system at 24 weeks with maintenance of this response until week 52; PCR = all BILAG Cs or better at week 24 and maintenance for 16 weeks or at most 1 BILAG B at week 24 and maintenance until week 52. BILAG, British Isles Lupus Assessment Group; MCR, major clinical response; PCR, partial clinical response; SELENA, Safety of Estrogen in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SLEDAI, SLE Disease Activity Index.