Aslera™ improves bone mineral density in lupu...( prednisone (<10 mg prednisone/day...)

In the study, female lupus patients experienced significant improvement their BMD after one year of therapy with Aslera™ compared to placebo, Ginzler and her colleagues found. Specifically, 18 Aslera™ patients showed increases of spinal BMD of 1.8 percent compared to a loss of 1.8 percent among 19 placebo patients (p=0.004). Hip scores also demonstrated differences, with an increase of 2.1 percent in Aslera™ patients compared to a loss of 0.2 percent among placebo patients (p=0.080).

Even greater differences in BMD scores occurred among the 19 postmenopausal patients. The 10 Aslera™ patients had spinal increases of 3.3 percent compared to a loss of 3.0 percent among 9 placebo patients (p=0.007). Hip scores demonstrated differences as well, with an increase of 2.4 percent among Aslera™ patients compared to a loss of 0.2 percent among placebo patients (p=0.237).

"We are encouraged by the results of increased BMD experienced among patients treated with Aslera™. These results add to the evidence that Aslera™ holds promise as a new lupus therapy. Genelabs developed GL701, which will be marketed under the name Aslera™ if approved, for the treatment of SLE and has filed a New Drug Application with the Food and Drug Administration for that indication," said Marc Gurwith, M.D., Genelabs Vice President, Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer.

Lupus patients develop antibodies that react against their own normal tissue, which can lead to inflammation, arthritis pain, tissue injury and major organ damage. In addition to the risk of osteoporosis from age and steroid drug the
'"/>

Contact: Beth Kaplan
212-601-8443
Porter Novelli
30-Oct-2000