Table 2

Unanswered questions about B-cell activating factor inhibition

Clinical

Mechanistic

Comparative efficacy of belimumab with different background immunosuppressive therapies

Secondary therapeutic effects of BAFF inhibition beyond primary effects on B cells

Belimumab utility in unstudied patient populations (pediatric lupus, nephritis, cerebritis)

Effect of BAFF inhibition on selection and maturation of naïve and antigen-activated autoreactive B cells in humans

Duration of therapeutic effect

Safety of belimumab post B-cell depletion

Utility of atacicept, LY2127399, and other BAFF/APRIL-blocking therapies

for SLE and other autoimmune diseases

APRIL, a proliferation-inducing ligand; BAFF, B-cell activating factor; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.

Boneparth and Davidson Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012 14(Suppl 4):S2   doi:10.1186/ar3920