Manufacturers "Must Address Low Medication Compliance Among Lupus Patients"

Low compliance rates among lupus patients on prescribed medication pose a significant problem for their long-term survival, meaning improved treatment options for the disease are eagerly awaited by physicians and patients alike, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData.   According to GlobalData’s recent lupus report, the market covering systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) is set to see strong growth from $1.2 billion in 2015 to $3.2 billion by 2025. However, treatment options for the disease are sub-optimal, with high daily pill burdens and an increased rate of treatment-associated side effects over time, particularly for steroids.   A recent systemic review of the literature identified 11 studies covering self-reported surveys, electronic monitoring devices, clinical records, and prescription refill sources showing that more than half of all lupus patients are not taking their medication correctly, with antimalarial therapy showing particularly low compliance rates.   GlobalData analyst Sebastian S. Gehrke, Ph.D. commented: “As there is currently no cure for SLE, sufferers are likely to take multiple immune-suppressing medications over the course of their lives. The life expectancy of those living with SLE has almost doubled over the last 50 years, with survival rates approaching 90%. Improved supportive treatments, particularly the increasing use of antimalarial therapy, are among the main drivers for this prolonged survival.”