Patients living with a debilitating immune system disorder that can lead to skin rashes, joint pain and even death are set to receive ground-breaking new treatment.
The condition, lupus, affects around 50,000 Britons and can also trigger kidney problems and severe scarring.
The award-winning singer Seal, 61, best known for hit Kiss From A Rose, developed a form of the disease in his 20s which left his face permanently marked.
Until recently, there have been few effective treatments.
Some available drugs are linked to a number of dangerous side effects, including broken bones and heart disease.
But last week, researchers revealed that a new lupus drug triggers ‘substantial improvement’ in the majority of sufferers.
Experts believe the once-a-month injection, called dapirolizumab pegol, could soon be available on the NHS.
‘This is a first-of-its-kind drug that appears to combat a variety of lupus symptoms,’ says Dr Ed Vital of Leeds Institute for Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine. ‘If it turns out to be as effective as it appears in the early data, then it could make a real positive difference to many patients.’
Around nine out of ten patients are female, for reasons not fully understood. It is also more common among those of African, Caribbean and Asian descent.
Lupus is triggered when the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body. The cause is not known but it may be linked to viral infections, certain medicines, and puberty.
Patients usually begin experiencing symptoms in their early 20s – though the condition can begin in childhood.
Symptoms can change over time. Some patients start experiencing fatigue and skin rashes but may develop kidney damage and joint pain.
In severe cases, lupus can lead to life-threatening complications. Research suggests that around one in seven patients will die of the condition within 15 years of diagnosis.
Until about a decade ago, there were no approved lupus treatments in the UK. Steroids help combat the symptoms but often trigger side effects such as weight gain and strokes.
But in the past few years, a number of highly effective drugs have got NHS approval. This includes the injection belimumab, which was approved in 2021.
