Episode 16 - Factors Hindering Care for SLE Patients

Despite the number of drugs currently in the pipeline for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the panelists raise concerns about unaddressed factors that may continue to impede a clinician’s decision to recommend a treatment option to a patient.

Michelle Petri, MD, MPH, explains that newly-approved therapy options still lack personalized biomarkers and do not provide important long-term outcomes data that help professionals make decisions about treatment for patients with SLE.

Patrick F. Fogarty, MD, further explains that when defining the value of medical therapy, an economic consideration continues to stand in the way of treatment recommendations.

Without addressing these issues, Dr Petri and Dr Fogarty agree that when selecting appropriate therapy for a patient, and when considering the costs associated with a treatment option, it is important to individualize therapy for patients with SLE.