Meanwhile, five years have passed since the approval of the anti-BAFF antibody belimumab as a first biological for SLE, but no further SLE drug candidate is even close to approval. There are still no clinical trial data available for the use of new oral anticoagulants in antiphospholipid syndrome. In spite of convincing evidence for the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in lupus nephritis, the German "Gemeinsame Bundesausschuss" (GBA) has not yet decided on its reimbursement. However, several of the ongoing clinical trials have potential to lead to important advances in SLE treatment in the future. At least, we have validated tools for detecting therapeutic effects in SLE treatment trials. In addition, there are large projects ongoing to develop defined treatment goals for the management of SLE as well as new classification criteria, which hopefully will be generally accepted.
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