Advanced Therapies and the Unmet Need in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: Results From a Real-World Study in the United States and Germany
Author(s)
Russel Burge, MA, PhD1, Vicky Barton, MSc2, Emily Jane Goddard, MChem2, Alastair Hinds, BSc2, James Piercy, PhD2.
1Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA, 2Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom.
1Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA, 2Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the unmet need in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receiving advanced therapies (ATs).
METHODS: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World Lupus Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of rheumatologists and their patients with SLE (plus additional SLE patients receiving anifrolumab) in Germany and the United States (US) from July 2024 - January 2025. Rheumatologists reported patient demographics and treatment details. Patients self-reported QoL via the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) - Fatigue and EQ-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). Bivariate T-tests compared AT with non-AT patients; p<0.05 indicates significance.
RESULTS: Overall, 106 rheumatologists (Germany, n=35; US, n=71) reported data for 1054 patients (Germany, n=280; US, n=774), of whom 539 were AT and 515 were non-AT. Mean (standard deviation; SD) patient age was 43.0 (13.9) years, 62.9% were White and 81.8% female.
At survey, 42.7% and 28.5% of AT patients were receiving steroids, and 61.8% and 30.5% of non-AT patients were receiving steroids in Germany and the US, respectively, while 38.4% of AT patients were prescribed ≥3 concurrent treatments. AT patients in Germany were more likely to have reduced steroid prescription (p=0.0018) than non-AT patients and reduced steroid dose since treatment initiation than non-AT patients (p=0.0190) with AT patients in the US more likely to have a fluctuated and recently decreased steroid dose than non-AT patients (p=0.0038).
AT patients reported QoL impact, with mean (standard deviation, SD) EQ-VAS scores of 64.4% (17.5) in Germany and 73.3% (18.8) in the US. Mean (SD) FACIT-Fatigue scores for AT patients across Germany and US were 32.0 (10.2) and 34.5 (12.4) respectively (population mean 43, lower scores indicate greater fatigue).
CONCLUSIONS: Although ATs appear to support steroid sparing, there is unmet need for AT patients in polypharmacy and QoL impact, despite being treated with an advanced therapy.
METHODS: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World Lupus Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of rheumatologists and their patients with SLE (plus additional SLE patients receiving anifrolumab) in Germany and the United States (US) from July 2024 - January 2025. Rheumatologists reported patient demographics and treatment details. Patients self-reported QoL via the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) - Fatigue and EQ-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). Bivariate T-tests compared AT with non-AT patients; p<0.05 indicates significance.
RESULTS: Overall, 106 rheumatologists (Germany, n=35; US, n=71) reported data for 1054 patients (Germany, n=280; US, n=774), of whom 539 were AT and 515 were non-AT. Mean (standard deviation; SD) patient age was 43.0 (13.9) years, 62.9% were White and 81.8% female.
At survey, 42.7% and 28.5% of AT patients were receiving steroids, and 61.8% and 30.5% of non-AT patients were receiving steroids in Germany and the US, respectively, while 38.4% of AT patients were prescribed ≥3 concurrent treatments. AT patients in Germany were more likely to have reduced steroid prescription (p=0.0018) than non-AT patients and reduced steroid dose since treatment initiation than non-AT patients (p=0.0190) with AT patients in the US more likely to have a fluctuated and recently decreased steroid dose than non-AT patients (p=0.0038).
AT patients reported QoL impact, with mean (standard deviation, SD) EQ-VAS scores of 64.4% (17.5) in Germany and 73.3% (18.8) in the US. Mean (SD) FACIT-Fatigue scores for AT patients across Germany and US were 32.0 (10.2) and 34.5 (12.4) respectively (population mean 43, lower scores indicate greater fatigue).
CONCLUSIONS: Although ATs appear to support steroid sparing, there is unmet need for AT patients in polypharmacy and QoL impact, despite being treated with an advanced therapy.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
RWD9
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Patient-Centered Research, Real World Data & Information Systems
Disease
Biologics & Biosimilars, Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)