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CompletedNCT03312907Updated Feb 18, 2025Results posted

A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Belimumab Administered in Combination With Rituximab to Adult Subjects With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) - BLISS-BELIEVE

A Phase 3 interventional study of Belimumab and Rituximab in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. Completed at 79 sites in 11 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-02-18.

Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
292
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to assess whether co-administration of belimumab and a single cycle of rituximab will optimize treatment with belimumab, which will result in improvements of clinical status with a favorable safety profile, by comparing subjects randomized to belimumab plus rituximab versus belimumab plus rituximab-placebo. Approximately 292 subjects will be randomized in a 1:2:1 ratio to 1 of 3 treatment arms; belimumab plus rituximab-placebo (Arm A, control), belimumab plus rituximab (Arm B, combination), or belimumab plus standard therapy (Arm C, reference). Belimumab will be administered as subcutaneous (SC) and rituximab-placebo or rituximab will be administered by intravenous (IV) infusions. The total duration of the study is for 104 weeks.

02

Conditions studied

  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Keywords

  • immunosuppressants
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index
  • Belimumab
  • Lupus Low Disease Activity State
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
03

In context

Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic

1,222 studies on the registry are indexed under Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; 399 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 292 is above the median of 50 across 881 interventional studies indexed under Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic.

Browse Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic studies →

Lead sponsor

GlaxoSmithKline is the lead sponsor of 3,647 studies on the registry; 118 are open to participants now.

Of its 264 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 239 (91%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Subjects must be >=18 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent.
  • Subjects who have clinical diagnosis of SLE based on 4 or more of the 11 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria.
  • Subjects who have a screening SLEDAI-2K score >=6 (This refers to the total score. Serological activity, i.e., anti-double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid [dsDNA]) positivity and/or hypocomplementemia is not required to be present in SLEDAI-2K assessment, but are scored if present).
  • Subjects who have unequivocally positive autoantibody test results defined as an anti-nuclear (ANA) titer >=1:80 and/or a positive anti-dsDNA (>=30 International Units per milliliter [IU/mL]) serum antibody test from 2 independent time points as follows: Positive test results from 2 independent time points within the study screening period. Screening results must be based on the study's central laboratory results. Or, one positive historical test result and 1 positive test result during the screening period.
  • Subjects who are on a stable SLE treatment regimen consisting of any of these medications (alone or in combination) for a period of at least 30 days prior to Day 1 (i.e. day of first dose of study treatment) with the exception that switching one agent for another of the same class for tolerability or availability reasons, which will be allowed within 30 days of Day 1: Corticosteroids (prednisone or prednisone equivalent); For those subjects on alternating daily doses of steroids, use the average of 2 daily doses to calculate the average daily steroid dose; Any immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory agents including methotrexate, azathioprine, leflunomide, mycophenolate (including mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolate mofetil hydrochloride, and mycophenolate sodium), calcineurin inhibitors (example [e.g.] tacrolimus, cyclosporine), sirolimus, oral cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, mizoribine, or thalidomide; Anti-malarials (e.g., hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, quinacrine); Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
  • Male and/or female. A female subject is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant not breastfeeding, and at least one of the these conditions applies: Not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or A WOCBP who agrees to follow the contraceptive guidance during the treatment period and for at least 16 weeks after the last dose of belimumab, or at least 12 months after the last dose of rituximab or rituximab-placebo.
  • Capable of giving signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Symptomatic herpes zoster within 3 months prior to screening.
  • Evidence of active or latent tuberculosis (TB). Documentation may include medical history and examination, chest X-rays (posterior, anterior, and lateral), and TB testing: either a positive tuberculin skin test (TST; defined as a skin induration ≥5 mm at 48 to 72 hours, regardless of Baccillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or other vaccination history) or a positive (not indeterminate) QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test.
  • Significant allergies to humanized monoclonal antibodies.
  • History of hypersensitivity to belimumab and/or rituximab or known to have titers of human anti-mouse antibody or history of hypersensitivity reactions when treated with other diagnostic or therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.
  • Lymphoma, leukemia, or any malignancy within the past 5 years (yrs) except for basal cell or squamous epithelial carcinomas of the skin that have been resected with no evidence of metastatic disease for 3 yrs.
  • Alanine transferase (ALT) greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN).
  • Bilirubin greater than 1.5 times ULN (isolated bilirubin greater than 1.5 times ULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin less than 35%).
  • Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency (IgA level less than 10 milligram per deciliter [mg/dL]).
  • Immunoglobulin G (IgG) less than 250 mg/dL. For Germany only, IgG less than 400mg/dL.
  • Neutrophils less than 1.5 times 10\^9.
  • Current unstable liver or biliary disease per investigator assessment defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminemia, esophageal or gastric varices, persistent jaundice, or cirrhosis.
  • Severe heart failure (New York Heart Association Class IV) or other severe, uncontrolled cardiac disease.
  • QT interval corrected (QTc) greater than 450 millisecond (msec) or QTc greater than 480 msec in subjects with bundle branch block.
  • Subjects who have a history of a major organ transplant (e.g., heart, lung, kidney, liver) or hematopoietic stem cell/marrow transplant.
  • Subjects who have clinical evidence of significant unstable or uncontrolled acute or chronic diseases not due to SLE (i.e., cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, neurological, psychiatric, malignancy, or infectious diseases) which, in the opinion of the principal investigator, could confound the results of the study or put the subject at undue risk.
  • Subjects who have an acute or chronic infection requiring management as : Currently on any suppressive therapy for a chronic infection such as pneumocystis, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, herpes zoster, or atypical mycobacteria); Hospitalization for treatment of infection within 60 days of Day 1; subjects who had infection requiring treatment with parenteral (IV or intramuscular [IM]) antibiotics (antibacterials, antivirals, anti-fungals, or anti-parasitic agents) within 60 days of Day 1. Prophylactic anti-infective treatment is allowed.
  • Subjects who have severe lupus kidney disease (defined by proteinuria greater than 6 gram (g)/24 hours or equivalent using spot urine protein to creatinine ratio, or serum creatinine greater than 2.5 mg/dL), or have severe active nephritis requiring induction therapy not permitted by protocol (e.g., IV cyclophosphamide), or have required hemodialysis or high dose prednisone or equivalent (greater than 100 mg/day) within 90 days of Day 1.
  • Subjects who have severe active central nervous system (CNS) lupus (including seizures, psychosis, organic brain syndrome, cerebrovascular accident [CVA], cerebritis, or CNS vasculitis) requiring therapeutic intervention within 60 days of Day 1.
  • Subjects who have a planned surgical procedure, laboratory abnormality, or condition (e.g., poor venous access) that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, makes the subject unsuitable for the study.
  • Subjects who have evidence of serious suicide risk, including any history of suicidal behavior in the last 6 months and/or any suicidal ideation of type 4 or 5 on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) in the last 2 months or who, in the investigator's opinion, pose a significant suicide risk.
  • Subjects who have a history of an anaphylaxis reaction to parenteral administration of contrast agents, human or murine proteins, or monoclonal antibodies.
  • Subjects who have received live vaccine(s) within 1 month prior to screening, or plans to receive such vaccines during the screening period or during the study.
  • Subjects who have received any of the these prior/concomitant therapy within 364 days of Day 1: Belimumab; Rituximab; Abatacept; Any B cell targeted therapy (anti-cluster of differentiation-20 [CD] agents other than rituximab, anti CD22 [epratuzumab], anti-CD52 [alemtuzumab], BLyS-receptor fusion protein [BR3], Trans-membrane activator and calcium-modulator and cytophilin ligand interactor [TACI] Fc, anti B-cell activating factor [BAFF] (LY2127399), anti-Interferon alpha agents or anti-BLyS other than belimumab); A biologic investigational agent other than B cell targeted therapy (e.g., abetimus sodium, anti CD40L antibody [BG9588/ IDEC 1311]). (Investigational agent applies to any drug not approved for sale in the country in which it is being used).
  • Subjects who have required 3 or more courses of systemic corticosteroids within 364 days of Day 1. (Topical or inhaled steroids are permitted).
  • Subjects who have received any of these within 90 days of Day 1: Anti- Tumor Necrosis Factor (Anti-TNF) therapy (e.g., adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab); Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (anakinra); Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG); High dose prednisone or equivalent (greater than 100 mg/day); Plasmapheresis.
  • Subjects who have received any of the these within 60 days of Day 1: A non-biologic investigational agent (Investigational agent applies to any drug not approved for sale in the country in which it is being used); IV cyclophosphamide and, for Germany only, oral cyclophosphamide; Any steroid injection (e.g., intramuscular [IM], intraarticular, or IV).
  • Positive immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody test.
  • Positive serology for Hepatitis B (HB), defined as HB surface antigen positive (HBsAg+) OR HB core antibody positive (HBcAb+).
  • Positive Hepatitis C (HCV) antibody test.
  • Subjects who have current drug or alcohol dependence, or a history of drug or alcohol abuse or dependence within 364 days prior to Day 1.
  • Sensitivity to any of the study treatments, or components thereof, or drug or other allergy that, in the opinion of the investigator, contraindicates participation in the study.
  • Unable to administer study treatment (belimumab) by SC injection and has no other reliable resource to administer the injection.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
292 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Placebo comparator
    Belimumab + Placebo

    Eligible subjects will receive Belimumab 200 milligrams (mg) to be administered subcutaneously (SC) on Day 1 and then weekly (i.e., every 7 days) through Week 52. Subjects will also receive rituximab-placebo to be administered by intravenous (IV) infusions at Weeks 4 and 6 in double blind manner. Subjects will receive standard therapy excluding Immunosuppressants and including anti-malarials, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and/or corticosteroids tapered down to prednisone equivalent of less than or equal to (\<=) 5 mg/day until Week 104. Subjects will not receive treatment after 52 weeks and will be in observation until Week 104.

    Drug: Belimumab · Drug: Rituximab-placebo · Drug: Standard therapy (Excluding Immunosuppressants) · Drug: Steroid Taper

  • Experimental
    Belimumab + Rituximab

    Eligible subjects will receive Belimumab 200 mg to be administered SC on Day 1 and then weekly (i.e., every 7 days) through Week 52. Subjects will also receive rituximab 1000 mg to be administered by IV infusions at Weeks 4 and 6 in double blind manner. Subjects will receive standard therapy excluding Immunosuppressants and including anti-malarials, NSAIDs, and/or corticosteroids tapered down to prednisone equivalent of \<= 5 mg/day until Week 104. Subjects will not receive treatment after 52 weeks and will be in observation until Week 104.

    Drug: Belimumab · Drug: Rituximab · Drug: Standard therapy (Excluding Immunosuppressants) · Drug: Steroid Taper

  • Other
    Belimumab + Standard therapy

    Eligible subjects will receive open-label Belimumab 200 mg administered SC on Day 1 and then weekly (i.e., every 7 days) until Week 104. Subjects will also receive standard therapy including immunosuppressant, anti-malarials, NSAIDs, and/or corticosteroids tapered down to prednisone equivalent of \<= 5 mg/day until Week 104.

    Drug: Belimumab · Drug: Standard therapy (Including Immunosuppressants) · Drug: Steroid Taper

Interventions

  • Belimumab will be administered as SC injection once weekly via autoinjector in thigh or abdomen

  • Rituximab will be administered as IV infusion of 1000mg at Week 4 and Week 6

  • DrugRituximab-placebo

    Saline will be administered as IV infusions at Week 4 and Week 6

  • DrugStandard therapy (Including Immunosuppressants)

    Standard therapy will contain stable SLE medications including immunosuppressant to be administered from baseline through Week 104.

  • DrugStandard therapy (Excluding Immunosuppressants)

    Standard therapy excluding Immunosuppressant will contain anti-malarials, NSAIDs, and/or corticosteroids with prednisone dose equivalent to \<= 5 mg/day will administered through Week 104.

  • DrugSteroid Taper

    Steroid taper will include prednisone doses equivalent to =\< 5 mg/day in all Arms through Week 104.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control at Week 52

    Percentage of participants with a state of disease control (Independent blinded assessor \[IBA\]) was defined as the percentage of participants with a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000(SLEDAI-2K)score less than or equal to(\<=)2 achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day at Week 52. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity in previous 10 days,consisting 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score(1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity)and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The SLEDAI-2K score was sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105(presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

    Time frame: Week 52

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission at Week 64

    Percentage of participants with a state of clinical remission (IBA) was defined as percentage of participants with a clinical SLEDAI-2K score =0 (does not include anti-double stranded deoxyribonucleic \[dsDNA\] and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day at Week 64. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring SLE disease activity in previous 10 days, consisting 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

    Time frame: Week 64

  2. Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control at Week 104

    Percentage of participants with a state of disease control (IBA) was defined as the percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day at Week 104. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring SLE disease activity in previous 10 days which consisted of 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K which ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

    Time frame: Week 104

  3. Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control by Visits

    Percentage of participants with a state of disease control (IBA) was defined as the percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring SLE disease activity in previous 10 days which consisted of 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K which ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

    Time frame: Weeks 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 80 and 104

  4. Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission by Visits

    Percentage of participants with a state of clinical remission (IBA) was defined as percentage of participants with a clinical SLEDAI-2K score =0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring SLE disease activity in previous 10 days, consisting 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity

    Time frame: Weeks 64, 80 and 104

  5. Percentage of Participants With a State of Complete Remission (CR) Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks During Week 52 to Week 104

    Percentage of participants with a state of CR (Principal Investigator \[PI\] assessed) was defined as percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K=0 achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day,sustained for at least 24 weeks. Sustained CR was longest period a participant maintains CR without break calculated as last consecutive CR date minus first consecutive CR date plus 1. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at time of visit or in preceding 10 days. SLEDAI-2K score was sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105(presence of all defined symptoms),higher scores indicates increased disease activity. Percentage of participants with a state of CR sustained for at least 24 weeks at any visit during Week 52 to Week 104 were reported.

    Time frame: Week 52 to Week 104

  6. Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission (CLR) Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks From Week 80 to Week 104

    Percentage of participants with a state of CLR (PI assessed) at Week 104 was defined as percentage of participants with a clinical SLEDAI-2K score=0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores) achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day, sustained for at least 24 weeks(from Week 80 to Week 104). Sustained CLR is longest period a participant maintains CLR without a break, calculated as last consecutive CLR date minus first consecutive CLR date plus 1. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score(1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

    Time frame: From Week 80 to Week 104

  7. Percentage of Participants With a State of Complete Remission by Visits

    Percentage of participants with a state of complete remission (PI assessed) was defined as the percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K score =0, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity in the previous 10 days which consisted of 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within for each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K which ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

    Time frame: Weeks 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96 and 104

  8. Time to First Severe Flare

    Time to first severe SLE flare was the number of days from treatment start date until the participant met an event. Time to first severe flare was defined as event date minus treatment start date plus 1. Time to first severe flare was measured by Modified SLE flare index which identifies whether a participant had experienced a mild/moderate or severe flare. Analysis of first severe flare was performed on the modified SLE Flare index that excludes severe flares that were triggered only by an increase is SLEDAI-2K score to greater than 12.

    Time frame: Up to Week 104

  9. Time to First Flare

    Time to first SLE flare was the number of days from treatment start date until the participant met an event. Time to first flare was defined as event date minus treatment start date plus 1. Time to first flare was measured by modified SLE flare index which identifies whether a participant had experienced a mild/moderate or severe flare.

    Time frame: Up to Week 104

  10. Time to Disease Control Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks and Maintained Through Week 104

    Disease control sustained for at least 24 weeks and maintained through Week 104 was defined as SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day. Time to disease control (PI assessed) was defined as the first visit of sustained disease control until Week 104 on or before Week 80 minus treatment start date (Day 1) plus 1. Sustained disease control was longest period a participant maintained disease control without a break. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K , ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms),higher scores representing increased disease activity.

    Time frame: Up to Week 104

  11. Time to Clinical Remission Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks and Maintained Through Week 104

    Clinical remission sustained for at least 24 weeks and maintained through Week 104 was defined as clinical SLEDAI-2K score=0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day. Time to CLR (PI assessed) was defined as first visit of sustained CLR until Week 104 on or before Week 80 minus treatment start date (Day 1) plus 1. Sustained CLR was longest period a participant maintained clinical remission without a break. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

    Time frame: Up to Week 104

  12. Duration of Disease Control

    Duration of disease control was defined as SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day. The duration of disease control (PI assessed) was the longest period between 2 visits that the participant was a disease control responder at all visits and calculated as the first visit of disease control minus last visit of disease control plus 1. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms),higher scores representing increased disease activity

    Time frame: Up to Week 104

  13. Duration of Clinical Remission

    Clinical remission was defined as clinical SLEDAI-2K score =0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day. The duration of clinical remission (PI assessed) was the longest period between 2 visits that the participant was a clinical remission responder at all visits and was calculated as the first visit of clinical remission minus last visit of clinical remission plus 1. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

    Time frame: Up to Week 104

  14. Change From Baseline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) Score by Visit (PI Assessed)

    The SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in the preceding 10 days. Weighted scores for central nervous system (CNS) (7 items) was 8; for vascular (1 item) was 8; for Musculoskeletal (2 items) was 4; for Renal (4 items) was 4; for Mucocutaneous (3 items) was 2; for Cardiovascular and Respiratory (2 items) was 2; for Immunologic (2 items) was 2;for Constitutional (1 item) was 1 and for Hematologic (2 items) was 1. SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K which ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity. Baseline value was latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104

  15. Percentage of Participants With SLEDAI-2K Organ Improvement Compared to Baseline by Visits (PI Assessed)

    SLEDAI-2K assessments consisted of 24 individual items with 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score(1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity)and summed if present at the time of analysis. SLEDAI-2K score was sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105(presence of all defined symptoms). Higher scores indicates increased disease activity. An improvement was defined as a decrease(compared to Baseline) in SLEDAI-2K score within same organ system at a post-Baseline visit. Baseline value was latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Data for following organ systems was reported: CNS total, Vascular total, Musculoskeletal total, Renal total, Mucocutaneous total, Cardiovascular (Cardio) and Respiratory (Resp) total, Immunologic total and Hematologic total. Constitutional organ system was removed from analysis and its one item (fever)moved to hematologic organ system.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104

  16. Percentage of Participants With SLEDAI-2K Organ Worsening Compared to Baseline by Visits (PI Assessed)

    SLEDAI-2K assessments consisted of 24 individual items with 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score(1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity)and summed if present at time of analysis. SLEDAI-2K score was sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105(presence of all defined symptoms). Higher scores indicates increased disease activity. A worsening was defined as an increase(compared to Baseline) in SLEDAI-2K score within same organ system at a post-Baseline visit. Baseline value was latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Percentage of participants with SLEDAI-2K organ worsening for following organ systems were reported;CNS total,Vascular total,Musculoskeletal total,Renal total,Mucocutaneous total,Cardio and Resp total,Immunologic total and Hematologic total. Constitutional organ system was removed from analysis and its one item (fever)moved to hematologic organ system.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104

  17. Change From Baseline in Physician Global Assessment (PGA) by Visits

    The Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) was a physician-reported visual analogue scale that provides an overall measure of the participant's current disease activity. Physician's Global Assessment was collected on a 10 centimeter (cm) visual analogue scale (VAS) by placing a mark on the scale between 0 (no disease activity) to 10 (maximum disease activity). The PGA score was then rescaled for reporting by multiplying the collected score by 3 divided by 10. Hence, the PGA score ranges from 0 to 3 with higher scores indicating greater disease activity. Baseline value was the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as the post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104

  18. Percentage of Participants With Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) -American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Damage Index Worsening Compared With Baseline at Week 52 and Week 104

    The SLICC-ACR Damage Index measures irreversible (not related to active inflammation) changes occurring since the diagnosis of SLE ascertained by clinical assessment and present for at least 6 months. The questionnaire contains 39 items covering 12 different organ systems which were scored on a numerical scale between 0 (no damage) to 7 (increasing disease damage). Individual ranges for organ systems were; ocular: 0-2, neuropsychiatric: 0-6, renal: 0-3, pulmonary: 0-5, cardiovascular:0-6, peripheral vascular: 0-5, gastrointestinal:0-5, musculoskeletal: 0-6, skin: 0-3, endocrine (diabetes): 0-1, gonadal:0-1 and malignancies: 0-2. The SLICC-ACR score was calculated by taking sum of the individual scores for 12 organ systems which ranges from 0 (no damage) to 45 (increasing disease damage) where higher score indicates increasing disease damage severity. Baseline value was the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1), Week 52 and Week 104

  19. Percentage of Participants That Met the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) Response Criteria by Visits (PI Assessed)

    Lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) was defined as a state which, if sustained, was associated with a low likelihood of adverse outcome, considering disease activity and medication safety. The LLDAS response criteria were: (1) SLEDAI-2K \<=4, with no activity in major organ systems (renal, CNS, cardiopulmonary, vasculitis, fever) and no hemolytic anemia or gastrointestinal activity; (2) no new features of lupus disease activity compared with the previous assessment; (3) PGA (scale 0-3), \<=1; (4) current prednisolone (or equivalent) dose \<=7.5 mg daily; and (5) well tolerated standard maintenance doses of immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents, excluding investigational drugs. Percentage of participants that met the LLDAS response criteria were reported.

    Time frame: Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96 and 104

  20. Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control Using the PI Assessment of SLEDAI-2K by Visit

    Percentage of participants with a state of disease control was defined as the percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day, using the PI assessment of SLEDAI-2K. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms), higher scores representing increased disease activity. Percentage of participants with a state of disease control using the PI assessment of SLEDAI-2K were summarized.

    Time frame: Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104

  21. Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission Using the PI Assessment of SLEDAI-2K by Visit

    Percentage of participants with a state of clinical remission was defined as the percentage of participants with a clinical SLEDAI-2K score =0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants (which was allowed in Belimumab+ Standard therapy arm only) and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day using the PI assessment of SLEDAI-2K. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity. Percentage of participants with a state of clinical remission using the PI assessment of SLEDAI-2K were summarized.

    Time frame: Weeks 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96 and 104

  22. Number of Participants With Serious Adverse Events (SAE) and Non-serious AE (Non-SAE)

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of a study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. A SAE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose results in death, is life-threatening, requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent disability/incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect or any other situations as per medical or scientific judgment. Data for number of participants with SAE and non-SAE (\>=5 %) has been summarized.

    Time frame: Up to Week 111 (including 8 weeks of safety follow-up)

  23. Number of Participants With Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs)

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of a study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. AESIs were Malignant Neoplasms, Post-Injection Systemic Reactions (PISR), All Infections of Special Interest (Opportunistic Infections (OI), Herpes Zoster (HZ), Tuberculosis (TB), and Sepsis), Depression (including mood disorders and anxiety)/suicide/self-injury and Deaths. Data for number of participants with AESIs has been summarized.

    Time frame: Up to Week 104

  24. Change From Baseline in Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) by Visits

    The Patient's Global Assessment (PtGA) of Disease Activity is a single-item, participant reported scale developed for the assessment of the participant's overall rating of their disease activity due to SLE. The scale measures disease activity ranging from 0 (Very Well) to 10 (Very Poor) and the higher score indicates severe disease activity. Baseline value was the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as the post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 8, 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 72 and 104

  25. Change From Baseline in Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL) Domain Scores by Visit

    LupusQoL is a SLE-specific health related qualify of life (HRQOL) instrument with 34 questions across 8 domains:Physical health(8 items),Pain(3 items),Planning(3 items),Intimate relationship(2 items),Burden to others(3 items),Emotional health(6 items),Body image(5 items),Fatigue(4 items). Questions were related to participants experience in prior 4 weeks.A 5-point Likert response format was used, ranging from 0(all of the time) to 4(never) for each question. Individual domain scores were reported which were calculated by taking sum of responses to all items within each domain. Individual domain scores range:Physical health(0-32),Pain(0-12),Planning(0-12),Intimate relationship(0-8),Burden to others(0-12),Emotional health(0-24),Body image(0-20),Fatigue(0-16). Higher score indicates better HRQOL. Baseline value was latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 8, 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 72 and 104

  26. Change From Baseline in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue Score by Visit

    The FACIT-Fatigue scale was a 13-item questionnaire completed by the participant, which provides a measure of fatigue/quality of life, with a 7-day recall period. The participant scored each item on a 5-point scale: 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The higher score for the questions, the greater the fatigue. The total score was the sum of the responses from all questions (inverted for reversed items) multiplied by 13, then divided by the number of questions answered, ranging from 0 (worse fatigue) to 52 (no fatigue) where a higher score indicates an improvement in the participant's health status and decrease in the score indicates worse fatigue/quality of life. Baseline value was the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as the post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 8, 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 72 and 104

  27. Percentage of Participants With Improvement in FACIT-Fatigue Score Exceeding the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID, Greater Than or Equal to [>=]4)

    The FACIT-Fatigue scale was a 13-item questionnaire completed by the participant, which provides a measure of fatigue/quality of life, with a 7-day recall period. The participant scored each item on a 5-point scale: 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The larger the participant's response to the questions, the greater the fatigue. The total score was the sum of the responses (inverted for reversed items) multiplied by 13, then divided by the number of questions answered, ranging from 0 (worse fatigue) to 52 (no fatigue) where a higher score indicates an improvement in the participant's health status and decrease in the score indicates worse fatigue/quality of life. A participant was considered to had an improvement exceeding the minimal clinically important difference if they had \>=4 points improvement in their FACIT-Fatigue Scale score from Baseline. Percentage of participants with improvement in FACIT-Fatigue scale score exceeding the MCID (\>=4 points) were summarized.

    Time frame: Weeks 8, 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 72 and 104

07

Results

Posted Apr 25, 2022

Participant flow

This was a multicenter study conducted at 71 centers in 11 countries. This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study where participants received treatment in any one of the treatment arms.

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Started7214476
Completed5511457
Not completed173019
Withdrew: Adverse event161
Withdrew: Protocol violation234
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up232
Withdrew: Physician decision342
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject91410

Outcome measures

PrimaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control at Week 52

Percentage of participants with a state of disease control (Independent blinded assessor \[IBA\]) was defined as the percentage of participants with a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000(SLEDAI-2K)score less than or equal to(\<=)2 achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day at Week 52. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity in previous 10 days,consisting 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score(1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity)and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The SLEDAI-2K score was sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105(presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

Time frame:
Week 52
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control at Week 52
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control at Week 5216.7 (8.1 to 25.3)19.4 (13.0 to 25.9)25.5 (13.1 to 38.0)
Statistical analysis
  • Belimumab + Placebo vs Belimumab + Rituximab · Regression, Logistic · p = 0.5342 · Odds ratio (or): 1.27 · 95% CI 0.60 to 2.71Odds ratio was calculated using logistic regression model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose. Belimumab + Standard therapy arm was excluded from model.
  • Belimumab + Rituximab vs Belimumab + Standard Therapy · Odds ratio (or): 0.71 · 95% CI 0.32 to 1.54Odds ratio was calculated using logistic regression model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, and Baseline prednisone equivalent dose. Belimumab + Placebo arm excluded from model.
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission at Week 64

Percentage of participants with a state of clinical remission (IBA) was defined as percentage of participants with a clinical SLEDAI-2K score =0 (does not include anti-double stranded deoxyribonucleic \[dsDNA\] and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day at Week 64. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring SLE disease activity in previous 10 days, consisting 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

Time frame:
Week 64
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission at Week 64
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission at Week 645.6 (0.3 to 10.8)6.3 (2.3 to 10.2)10.6 (1.8 to 19.5)
Statistical analysis
  • Belimumab + Placebo vs Belimumab + Rituximab · Regression, Logistic · p = 0.8582 · Odds ratio (or): 1.12 · 95% CI 0.33 to 3.78Odds ratio was calculated using logistic regression model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Standard therapy arm was excluded from model.
  • Belimumab + Rituximab vs Belimumab + Standard Therapy · Odds ratio (or): 0.53 · 95% CI 0.17 to 1.70Odds ratio was calculated using logistic regression model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Placebo arm was excluded from model.
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control at Week 104

Percentage of participants with a state of disease control (IBA) was defined as the percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day at Week 104. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring SLE disease activity in previous 10 days which consisted of 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K which ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

Time frame:
Week 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control at Week 104
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control at Week 1046.9 (1.1 to 12.8)11.1 (6.0 to 16.2)21.3 (9.6 to 33.0)
Statistical analysis
  • Belimumab + Placebo vs Belimumab + Rituximab · Regression, Logistic · p = 0.3613 · Odds ratio (or): 1.64 · 95% CI 0.57 to 4.72Odds ratio was calculated using logistic regression model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Standard therapy arm was excluded from model.
  • Belimumab + Rituximab vs Belimumab + Standard Therapy · Odds ratio (or): 0.45 · 95% CI 0.19 to 1.09Odds ratio was calculated using logistic regression model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Placebo arm excluded from model.
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control by Visits

Percentage of participants with a state of disease control (IBA) was defined as the percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring SLE disease activity in previous 10 days which consisted of 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K which ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

Time frame:
Weeks 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 80 and 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control by Visits
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 128.3 (1.9 to 14.7)12.5 (7.1 to 17.9)21.3 (9.6 to 33.0)
Week 2616.7 (8.1 to 25.3)21.5 (14.8 to 28.2)25.5 (13.1 to 38.0)
Week 4013.9 (5.9 to 21.9)20.8 (14.2 to 27.5)23.4 (11.3 to 35.5)
Week 5216.7 (8.1 to 25.3)19.4 (13.0 to 25.9)25.5 (13.1 to 38.0)
Week 6411.1 (3.9 to 18.4)18.1 (11.8 to 24.3)25.5 (13.1 to 38.0)
Week 806.9 (1.1 to 12.8)13.2 (7.7 to 18.7)27.7 (14.9 to 40.4)
Week 1046.9 (1.1 to 12.8)11.1 (6.0 to 16.2)21.3 (9.6 to 33.0)
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission by Visits

Percentage of participants with a state of clinical remission (IBA) was defined as percentage of participants with a clinical SLEDAI-2K score =0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring SLE disease activity in previous 10 days, consisting 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity

Time frame:
Weeks 64, 80 and 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission by Visits
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 645.6 (0.3 to 10.8)6.3 (2.3 to 10.2)10.6 (1.8 to 19.5)
Week 804.2 (0 to 8.8)4.2 (0.9 to 7.4)12.8 (3.2 to 22.3)
Week 1041.4 (0 to 4.1)4.2 (0.9 to 7.4)6.4 (0 to 13.4)
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Complete Remission (CR) Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks During Week 52 to Week 104

Percentage of participants with a state of CR (Principal Investigator \[PI\] assessed) was defined as percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K=0 achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day,sustained for at least 24 weeks. Sustained CR was longest period a participant maintains CR without break calculated as last consecutive CR date minus first consecutive CR date plus 1. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at time of visit or in preceding 10 days. SLEDAI-2K score was sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105(presence of all defined symptoms),higher scores indicates increased disease activity. Percentage of participants with a state of CR sustained for at least 24 weeks at any visit during Week 52 to Week 104 were reported.

Time frame:
Week 52 to Week 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Complete Remission (CR) Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks During Week 52 to Week 104
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Percentage of Participants With a State of Complete Remission (CR) Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks During Week 52 to Week 1042.8 (0 to 6.6)0 (NA to NA)6.4 (0 to 13.4)
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission (CLR) Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks From Week 80 to Week 104

Percentage of participants with a state of CLR (PI assessed) at Week 104 was defined as percentage of participants with a clinical SLEDAI-2K score=0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores) achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day, sustained for at least 24 weeks(from Week 80 to Week 104). Sustained CLR is longest period a participant maintains CLR without a break, calculated as last consecutive CLR date minus first consecutive CLR date plus 1. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score(1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

Time frame:
From Week 80 to Week 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission (CLR) Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks From Week 80 to Week 104
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission (CLR) Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks From Week 80 to Week 1042.8 (0 to 6.6)2.1 (0 to 4.4)4.3 (0 to 10.0)
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Complete Remission by Visits

Percentage of participants with a state of complete remission (PI assessed) was defined as the percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K score =0, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day. SLEDAI-2K was a weighted, cumulative index for measuring systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity in the previous 10 days which consisted of 24 individual items in which signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and physician's assessment for each item within for each of 9 organ systems were given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of the visit or in the preceding 10 days. The SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K which ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

Time frame:
Weeks 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96 and 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Complete Remission by Visits
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 605.6 (0.3 to 10.8)0.7 (0 to 2.1)6.4 (0 to 13.4)
Week 645.6 (0.3 to 10.8)0.7 (0 to 2.1)6.4 (0 to 13.4)
Week 724.2 (0 to 8.8)0.7 (0 to 2.1)6.4 (0 to 13.4)
Week 802.8 (0 to 6.6)1.4 (0 to 3.3)8.5 (0.5 to 16.5)
Week 882.8 (0 to 6.6)0 (NA to NA)4.3 (0 to 10.0)
Week 961.4 (0 to 4.1)0.7 (0 to 2.1)6.4 (0 to 13.4)
Week 1041.4 (0 to 4.1)0.7 (0 to 2.1)4.3 (0 to 10.0)
SecondaryTime to First Severe Flare

Time to first severe SLE flare was the number of days from treatment start date until the participant met an event. Time to first severe flare was defined as event date minus treatment start date plus 1. Time to first severe flare was measured by Modified SLE flare index which identifies whether a participant had experienced a mild/moderate or severe flare. Analysis of first severe flare was performed on the modified SLE Flare index that excludes severe flares that were triggered only by an increase is SLEDAI-2K score to greater than 12.

Time frame:
Up to Week 104
Reported as:
Median · Days
Time to First Severe Flare
DaysBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Time to First Severe Flare372.0 (202.0 to 485.0)379.0 (198.0 to NA)730.0 (210.0 to NA)
Statistical analysis
  • Belimumab + Placebo vs Belimumab + Rituximab · Cox proportional hazards model · p = 0.2150 · Hazard ratio (hr): 0.81 · 95% CI 0.57 to 1.13Hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional hazards model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Standard therapy arm was excluded from model.
  • Belimumab + Rituximab vs Belimumab + Standard Therapy · Hazard ratio (hr): 1.64 · 95% CI 1.03 to 2.63Hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional hazards model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Placebo arm excluded from model.
SecondaryTime to First Flare

Time to first SLE flare was the number of days from treatment start date until the participant met an event. Time to first flare was defined as event date minus treatment start date plus 1. Time to first flare was measured by modified SLE flare index which identifies whether a participant had experienced a mild/moderate or severe flare.

Time frame:
Up to Week 104
Reported as:
Median · Days
Time to First Flare
DaysBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Time to First Flare168.0 (92.0 to 257.0)170.0 (57.0 to 365.0)168.0 (91.0 to 337.0)
Statistical analysis
  • Belimumab + Placebo vs Belimumab + Rituximab · Cox proportional hazards model · p = 0.3757 · Hazard ratio (hr): 0.87 · 95% CI 0.64 to 1.19Hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional hazards model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Standard therapy arm was excluded from model.
  • Belimumab + Rituximab vs Belimumab + Standard Therapy · Hazard ratio (hr): 1.03 · 95% CI 0.71 to 1.49Hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional hazards model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Placebo arm excluded from model.
SecondaryTime to Disease Control Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks and Maintained Through Week 104

Disease control sustained for at least 24 weeks and maintained through Week 104 was defined as SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day. Time to disease control (PI assessed) was defined as the first visit of sustained disease control until Week 104 on or before Week 80 minus treatment start date (Day 1) plus 1. Sustained disease control was longest period a participant maintained disease control without a break. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K , ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms),higher scores representing increased disease activity.

Time frame:
Up to Week 104
Reported as:
Median · Days
Time to Disease Control Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks and Maintained Through Week 104
DaysBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Time to Disease Control Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks and Maintained Through Week 104NA (NA to NA)NA (NA to NA)NA (NA to NA)
Statistical analysis
  • Belimumab + Placebo vs Belimumab + Rituximab · Cox proportional hazards model · p = 0.5127 · Hazard ratio (hr): 1.55 · 95% CI 0.42 to 5.78Hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional hazards model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Standard therapy arm was excluded from model.
  • Belimumab + Rituximab vs Belimumab + Standard Therapy · Hazard ratio (hr): 0.70 · 95% CI 0.23 to 2.10Hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional hazards model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Placebo arm excluded from model.
SecondaryTime to Clinical Remission Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks and Maintained Through Week 104

Clinical remission sustained for at least 24 weeks and maintained through Week 104 was defined as clinical SLEDAI-2K score=0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day. Time to CLR (PI assessed) was defined as first visit of sustained CLR until Week 104 on or before Week 80 minus treatment start date (Day 1) plus 1. Sustained CLR was longest period a participant maintained clinical remission without a break. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

Time frame:
Up to Week 104
Reported as:
Median · Days
Time to Clinical Remission Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks and Maintained Through Week 104
DaysBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Time to Clinical Remission Sustained for at Least 24 Weeks and Maintained Through Week 104NA (NA to NA)NA (NA to NA)NA (NA to NA)
Statistical analysis
  • Belimumab + Placebo vs Belimumab + Rituximab · Cox proportional hazards model · p = 0.8436 · Hazard ratio (hr): 0.83 · 95% CI 0.14 to 5.05Hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional hazards model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Standard therapy arm was excluded from model.
  • Belimumab + Rituximab vs Belimumab + Standard Therapy · Hazard ratio (hr): 0.52 · 95% CI 0.09 to 3.14Hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional hazards model with covariates: Baseline SLEDAI-2K, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Placebo arm excluded from model.
SecondaryDuration of Disease Control

Duration of disease control was defined as SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day. The duration of disease control (PI assessed) was the longest period between 2 visits that the participant was a disease control responder at all visits and calculated as the first visit of disease control minus last visit of disease control plus 1. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms),higher scores representing increased disease activity

Time frame:
Up to Week 104
Reported as:
Median · Days
Duration of Disease Control
DaysBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Duration of Disease Control49.5 (1.0 to 172.0)116.0 (21.0 to 265.0)116.0 (23.0 to 351.0)
SecondaryDuration of Clinical Remission

Clinical remission was defined as clinical SLEDAI-2K score =0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day. The duration of clinical remission (PI assessed) was the longest period between 2 visits that the participant was a clinical remission responder at all visits and was calculated as the first visit of clinical remission minus last visit of clinical remission plus 1. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity.

Time frame:
Up to Week 104
Reported as:
Median · Days
Duration of Clinical Remission
DaysBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Duration of Clinical Remission31.0 (1.0 to 253.0)73.0 (29.0 to 225.0)176.0 (85.0 to 279.0)
SecondaryChange From Baseline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) Score by Visit (PI Assessed)

The SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in the preceding 10 days. Weighted scores for central nervous system (CNS) (7 items) was 8; for vascular (1 item) was 8; for Musculoskeletal (2 items) was 4; for Renal (4 items) was 4; for Mucocutaneous (3 items) was 2; for Cardiovascular and Respiratory (2 items) was 2; for Immunologic (2 items) was 2;for Constitutional (1 item) was 1 and for Hematologic (2 items) was 1. SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K which ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity. Baseline value was latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

Time frame:
Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104
Reported as:
Mean · Scores on a scale
Change From Baseline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) Score by Visit (PI Assessed)
Scores on a scaleBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 4; n=69, 137, 43-1.4 ± 2.75-0.8 ± 3.39-1.3 ± 3.15
Week 8; n=63, 132, 43-3.2 ± 3.59-2.9 ± 4.09-2.9 ± 3.43
Week 12; n=63, 131, 43-2.8 ± 3.50-3.6 ± 4.32-2.9 ± 3.68
Week 16; n=65, 129, 43-3.4 ± 4.12-4.4 ± 4.62-4.1 ± 3.29
Week 20; n=63, 127, 44-3.8 ± 4.06-5.0 ± 4.44-3.8 ± 3.98
Week 24; n=61, 128, 43-4.0 ± 3.71-5.0 ± 4.45-5.0 ± 4.00
Week 26; n=61, 118, 40-4.1 ± 3.61-5.4 ± 4.79-5.0 ± 3.18
Week 28; n=62, 125, 43-3.7 ± 3.79-5.1 ± 4.74-5.2 ± 4.31
Week 32; n=61, 125, 43-4.7 ± 3.87-5.7 ± 5.03-5.3 ± 3.90
Week 36; n=61, 125, 43-5.0 ± 4.43-5.6 ± 5.21-5.0 ± 3.68
Week 40; n=62, 125, 43-4.6 ± 4.14-5.8 ± 4.83-5.0 ± 3.78
Week 44; n=62, 122, 43-4.7 ± 4.71-6.1 ± 4.47-5.2 ± 4.06
Week 48; n=59, 122, 40-4.5 ± 4.16-6.2 ± 4.59-5.3 ± 4.08
Week 52; n=62, 119, 39-5.3 ± 4.62-6.1 ± 4.42-5.6 ± 4.02
Week 60; n=57, 114, 37-5.0 ± 4.15-5.8 ± 5.17-6.0 ± 3.94
Week 64; n=60, 117, 36-5.1 ± 4.16-6.2 ± 4.96-5.5 ± 4.40
Week 72; n=49, 103, 30-5.2 ± 4.32-6.6 ± 4.50-5.3 ± 4.63
Week 80; n=46, 102, 36-5.4 ± 4.58-6.5 ± 4.79-6.0 ± 4.08
Week 88; n=49, 101, 34-5.3 ± 4.61-6.5 ± 4.29-6.1 ± 3.80
Week 96; n=49, 100, 34-5.6 ± 4.35-7.0 ± 4.44-6.1 ± 3.80
Week 104; n=50, 104, 34-5.1 ± 3.69-7.2 ± 4.22-6.3 ± 3.76
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With SLEDAI-2K Organ Improvement Compared to Baseline by Visits (PI Assessed)

SLEDAI-2K assessments consisted of 24 individual items with 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score(1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity)and summed if present at the time of analysis. SLEDAI-2K score was sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105(presence of all defined symptoms). Higher scores indicates increased disease activity. An improvement was defined as a decrease(compared to Baseline) in SLEDAI-2K score within same organ system at a post-Baseline visit. Baseline value was latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Data for following organ systems was reported: CNS total, Vascular total, Musculoskeletal total, Renal total, Mucocutaneous total, Cardiovascular (Cardio) and Respiratory (Resp) total, Immunologic total and Hematologic total. Constitutional organ system was removed from analysis and its one item (fever)moved to hematologic organ system.

Time frame:
Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With SLEDAI-2K Organ Improvement Compared to Baseline by Visits (PI Assessed)
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
CNS Total; Week 4; n= 2,3,2033.30
CNS Total; Week 8; n= 2,3,250.066.70
CNS Total; Week 12; n= 2,3,250.066.750.0
CNS Total; Week 16; n= 2,3,250.066.70
CNS Total; Week 20; n= 2,3,210066.70
CNS Total; Week 24; n= 2,3,210066.7100
CNS Total; Week 26; n= 2,3,250.066.70
CNS Total; Week 28; n= 2,3,210066.7100
CNS Total; Week 32; n= 2,3,210066.7100
CNS Total; Week 36; n= 2,3,210066.750.0
CNS Total; Week 40; n= 2,3,210066.7100
CNS Total; Week 44; n= 2,3,210066.7100
CNS Total; Week 48; n= 2,3,210066.750.0
CNS Total; Week 52; n= 2,3,210066.7100
CNS Total; Week 60; n= 2,3,210066.7100
CNS Total; Week 64; n= 2,3,210066.7100
CNS Total; Week 72; n= 2,3,210033.350.0
CNS Total; Week 80; n= 2,3,210033.350.0
CNS Total; Week 88; n= 2,3,210033.3100
CNS Total; Week 96; n= 2,3,210033.3100
CNS Total; Week 104; n=2,3,210033.3100
Vascular Total; Week 4; n= 6,11,050.09.1—
Vascular Total; Week 8; n= 6,11,033.336.4—
Vascular Total; Week 12; n= 6,11,050.054.5—
Vascular Total; Week 16; n= 6,11,050.054.5—
Vascular Total; Week 20; n=6,11,050.072.7—
Vascular Total; Week 24; n= 6,11,050.072.7—
Vascular Total; Week 26; n= 6, 11, 050.063.6—
Vascular Total; Week 28; n= 6, 11,033.372.7—
Vascular Total; Week 32; n= 6,11, 050.072.7—
Vascular Total; Week 36; n= 6, 11,050.063.6—
Vascular Total; Week 40; n= 6, 11,033.372.7—
Vascular Total; Week 44; n= 6, 11, 033.372.7—
Vascular Total; Week 48; n= 6, 11, 033.363.6—
Vascular Total; Week 52; n= 6, 11, 066.763.6—
Vascular Total; Week 60; n= 6, 11, 050.063.6—
Vascular Total; Week 64; n= 6, 11, 050.090.9—
Vascular Total; Week 72; n= 6, 11, 033.381.8—
Vascular Total; Week 80; n= 6, 11, 050.072.7—
Vascular Total; Week 88; n= 6, 11, 050.045.5—
Vascular Total; Week 96; n= 6, 11, 050.063.6—
Vascular Total; Week 104; n= 6, 11, 033.372.7—
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 4; n= 57, 110, 3422.813.623.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 8; n=57,110, 3440.440.050.0
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 12; n= 57,110,3436.844.547.1
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 16; n= 57,110,3442.156.467.6
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 20; n= 57,110,3447.458.264.7
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 24; n= 57,110,3442.154.570.6
Musculoskeletal Total;; Week 26; n=57,110,3443.946.473.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 28; n= 57,110,3449.153.676.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 32; n= 57,110,3454.463.676.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 36; n= 57,110,3461.461.876.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 40; n= 57,110,3454.458.273.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 44; n= 57,110,3450.960.076.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 48; n= 57,110,3457.960.973.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 52; n= 57,110,3459.659.173.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 60; n= 57,110,3454.454.567.6
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 64; n= 57,110,3456.155.567.6
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 72; n= 57,110,3447.458.258.8
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 80; n= 57,110,3447.458.276.5
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 88; n= 57,110,3457.959.167.6
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 96; n= 57,110,3450.960.970.6
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 104; n= 57,110,3447.464.567.6
Renal Total; Week 4; n= 14,23,821.430.412.5
Renal Total; Week 8; n= 14, 23, 850.043.512.5
Renal Total; Week 12; n= 14, 23, 828.652.212.5
Renal Total; Week 16; n= 14, 23, 835.752.212.5
Renal Total; Week 20; n= 14, 23, 857.160.912.5
Renal Total; Week 24; n= 14, 23, 835.760.912.5
Renal Total; Week 26; n= 14, 23, 828.665.225.0
Renal Total; Week 28; n= 14, 23, 821.456.537.5
Renal Total; Week 32; n= 14, 23, 835.765.225.0
Renal Total; Week 36; n= 14, 23, 842.965.250.0
Renal Total; Week 40; n=14, 23, 842.969.625.0
Renal Total; Week 44; n= 14, 23, 850.069.612.5
Renal Total; Week 48; n=14, 23, 842.969.650.0
Renal Total; Week 52; n= 14, 23, 864.369.625.0
Renal Total; Week 60; n= 14, 23, 850.065.225.0
Renal Total; Week 64; n= 14, 23, 850.069.612.5
Renal Total; Week 72; n= 14, 23, 850.065.212.5
Renal Total; Week 80; n= 14, 23, 842.965.250.0
Renal Total; Week 88; n= 14, 23, 850.073.925.0
Renal Total; Week 96; n= 14, 23, 835.778.337.5
Renal Total; Week 104; n= 14, 23, 835.769.650.0
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 4; n= 59, 126,4330.528.632.6
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 8; n= 59,126,4354.245.251.2
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 12; n= 59, 126, 4355.957.155.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 16; n= 59, 126, 4357.658.767.4
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 20; n= 59, 126, 4350.862.769.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 24; n= 59, 126, 4359.361.969.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 26; n=59, 126, 4359.360.365.1
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 28; n= 59, 126, 4362.762.769.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 32; n= 59, 126, 4362.765.174.4
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 36; n= 59, 126, 4366.165.969.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 40; n= 59, 126, 4362.766.767.4
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 44; n= 59, 126, 4361.061.169.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 48; n= 59, 126, 4350.866.769.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 52; n=59, 126, 4364.464.369.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 60; n=59, 126, 4355.965.167.4
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 64; n=59, 126, 4364.465.962.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 72; n=59, 126, 4357.660.358.1
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 80; n= 59, 126, 4362.761.962.8
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 88; n= 59, 126, 4359.362.767.4
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 96; n= 59, 126, 4352.562.762.7
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 104; n= 59, 126, 4361.069.060.5
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 4; n= 3, 7, 0042.9—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 8; n= 3, 7, 0071.4—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 12; n= 3, 7, 0071.4—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 16; n= 3, 7, 0085.7—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 20; n= 3,7, 033.371.4—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 24; n= 3, 7, 066.7100—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 26; n=3, 7, 0085.7—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 28; n= 3,7, 0085.7—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 32; n= 3, 7, 033.3100—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 36; n= 3, 7, 066.785.7—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 40; n=3,7, 033.371.4—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 44; n= 3,7, 066.757.1—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 48; n= 3, 7, 033.385.7—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 52; n= 3, 7, 066.785.7—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 60; n= 3,7,010071.4—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 64; n=3,7,010085.7—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 72; n= 3,7,066.771.4—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 80; n=3,7,066.785.7—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 88; n= 3,7,066.771.4—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 96; n= 3,7,066.771.4—
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 104; n= 3,7,066.771.4—
Immunologic Total; Week 4; n=48, 104, 3412.510.617.6
Immunologic Total; Week 8; n= 48, 104, 3416.717.317.6
Immunologic Total; Week 12; n= 48, 104, 3422.924.017.6
Immunologic Total; Week 16; n= 48, 104, 3420.830.811.8
Immunologic Total; Week 20; n= 48, 104, 3420.836.523.5
Immunologic Total; Week 24; n= 48, 104, 3422.934.620.6
Immunologic Total; Week 26; n= 48, 104, 3418.839.411.8
Immunologic Total; Week 28; n= 48, 104, 3418.834.620.6
Immunologic Total; Week 32; n= 48, 104, 3425.040.423.5
Immunologic Total; Week 36; n= 48, 104, 3420.841.317.6
Immunologic Total; Week 40; n= 48, 104, 3414.644.223.5
Immunologic Total; Week 44; n= 48, 104, 3425.039.438.2
Immunologic Total; Week 48; n= 48, 104, 3420.841.329.4
Immunologic Total; Week 52; n= 48, 104, 3420.837.526.5
Immunologic Total; Week 60; n= 48, 104, 3425.045.220.6
Immunologic Total; Week 64; n= 48, 104, 3420.843.326.5
Immunologic Total; Week 72; n=48, 104, 3429.236.517.6
Immunologic Total; Week 80; n=48, 104, 3422.931.723.5
Immunologic Total; Week 88; n=48, 104, 3431.329.814.7
Immunologic Total; Week 96; n=48, 104, 3420.833.720.6
Immunologic Total; Week 104; n=48, 104, 3427.140.420.6
Hematologic Total; Week 4; n= 8, 19, 350.042.10
Hematologic Total; Week 8; n= 8, 19, 362.563.266.7
Hematologic Total; Week 12; n= 8, 19, 362.552.633.3
Hematologic Total; Week 16; n= 8, 19, 375.063.266.7
Hematologic Total; Week 20; n= 8, 19, 387.557.9100
Hematologic Total; Week 24; n= 8, 19, 362.552.6100
Hematologic Total; Week 26; n= 8, 19, 375.036.8100
Hematologic Total; Week 28; n= 8, 19, 362.557.966.7
Hematologic Total; Week 32; n= 8, 19, 362.557.966.7
Hematologic Total; Week 36; n= 8, 19, 387.563.266.7
Hematologic Total; Week 40; n= 8, 19, 362.552.666.7
Hematologic Total; Week 44; n= 8, 19, 387.557.966.7
Hematologic Total; Week 48; n= 8, 19, 337.563.266.7
Hematologic Total; Week 52; n= 8, 19, 375.052.633.3
Hematologic Total; Week 60; n= 8, 19, 350.057.933.3
Hematologic Total; Week 64; n= 8, 19, 362.568.433.3
Hematologic Total; Week 72; n= 8, 19, 362.547.40
Hematologic Total; Week 80; n= 8, 19, 350.052.633.3
Hematologic Total; Week 88; n= 8, 19, 337.557.933.3
Hematologic Total; Week 96; n= 8, 19, 350.052.633.3
Hematologic Total; Week 104; n= 8, 19, 350.063.233.3
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With SLEDAI-2K Organ Worsening Compared to Baseline by Visits (PI Assessed)

SLEDAI-2K assessments consisted of 24 individual items with 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score(1 to 8 with higher score indicating increased activity)and summed if present at time of analysis. SLEDAI-2K score was sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0(no symptoms) to 105(presence of all defined symptoms). Higher scores indicates increased disease activity. A worsening was defined as an increase(compared to Baseline) in SLEDAI-2K score within same organ system at a post-Baseline visit. Baseline value was latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Percentage of participants with SLEDAI-2K organ worsening for following organ systems were reported;CNS total,Vascular total,Musculoskeletal total,Renal total,Mucocutaneous total,Cardio and Resp total,Immunologic total and Hematologic total. Constitutional organ system was removed from analysis and its one item (fever)moved to hematologic organ system.

Time frame:
Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With SLEDAI-2K Organ Worsening Compared to Baseline by Visits (PI Assessed)
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
CNS Total; Week 4; n= 69, 136, 43000
CNS Total; Week 8; n= 64,132, 42000
CNS Total; Week 12; n= 65, 134, 42000
CNS Total; Week 16; n= 65, 130, 4200.80
CNS Total; Week 20; n= 63, 128, 42000
CNS Total; Week 24; n= 61, 127, 4100.80
CNS Total; Week 26; n=61, 116, 3800.90
CNS Total; Week 28; n=62, 124, 41000
CNS Total; Week 32; n= 61, 124, 4100.80
CNS Total; Week 36; n=61, 124, 4101.60
CNS Total; Week 40; n=61, 123, 41000
CNS Total; Week 44; n= 61, 121, 41000
CNS Total; Week 48; n= 58, 120,39000
CNS Total; Week 52; n= 62, 120, 38000
CNS Total; Week 60; n=59, 117, 35000
CNS Total; Week 64; n=60, 117, 34000
CNS Total; Week 72; n= 56, 109, 31000
CNS Total; Week 80; n=55, 111, 35000
CNS Total; Week 88; n= 57, 107, 34000
CNS Total; Week 96; n=52, 107, 33000
CNS Total; Week 104; n= 53, 112, 34000
Vascular Total;Week 4; n= 65, 128, 4503.90
Vascular Total;Week 8; n= 61, 124, 4402.40
Vascular Total; Week 12; n= 62, 126, 441.61.60
Vascular Total; Week 16; n=62, 122, 4401.60
Vascular Total; Week 20; n=60, 120, 4400.80
Vascular Total; Week 24; n= 59, 119, 43000
Vascular Total; Week 26; n=58, 109, 4000.90
Vascular Total;Week 28; n= 61, 116, 4301.70
Vascular Total;Week 32; n=59, 116, 4302.60
Vascular Total;Week 36; n= 59, 116, 4301.70
Vascular Total;Week 40; n=59, 115, 4301.70
Vascular Total;Week 44; n= 59, 113, 43000
Vascular Total;Week 48; n= 57, 112, 40000
Vascular Total;Week 52; n=60, 112, 4000.90
Vascular Total;Week 60; n= 58, 109, 37000
Vascular Total;Week 64; n=59, 109, 3601.80
Vascular Total;Week 72; n=55, 101, 33000
Vascular Total;Week 80; n= 54, 104, 3701.00
Vascular Total;Week 88; n=56, 102, 36000
Vascular Total;Week 96; n=51, 101, 35000
Vascular Total;Week 104; n=53, 105, 36000
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 4; n=15, 33, 12012.10
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 8; n= 15, 33, 126.76.10
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 12; n= 15, 33, 1213.36.10
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 16; n= 15, 32, 126.73.18.3
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 20; n= 15, 32, 126.76.30
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 24; n= 15, 31, 1106.50
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 26; n= 15, 31, 1103.20
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 28; n= 14, 31, 1103.29.1
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 32; n= 15, 30, 1106.79.1
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 36; n= 14, 30, 117.13.39.1
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 40; n=15, 30, 1103.39.1
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 44; n=15, 29, 1106.99.1
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 48; n= 14, 30, 107.13.310.0
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 52; n= 15, 30, 116.76.79.1
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 60; n= 14, 28, 11009.1
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 64; n=14, 29, 1003.410.0
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 72; n= 14, 27, 10011.110.0
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 80; n= 13, 26, 90011.1
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 88; n= 13, 25, 915.44.00
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 96; n= 12, 26, 903.80
Musculoskeletal Total; Week 104; n= 13, 27, 9000
Renal Total; Week 4; n= 57, 117, 365.36.011.1
Renal Total; Week 8; n=51, 110, 362.03.65.6
Renal Total; Week 12; n=53, 115, 351.93.58.6
Renal Total; Week 16; n=53, 112, 357.54.52.9
Renal Total; Week 20; n= 49, 108, 368.23.78.3
Renal Total; Week 24; n= 49, 111, 3510.23.62.9
Renal Total; Week 26; n= 49, 99, 336.100
Renal Total; Week 28; n= 50, 106, 3610.01.92.8
Renal Total; Week 32; n= 50,107, 366.02.82.8
Renal Total; Week 36; n= 50, 107, 368.02.85.6
Renal Total; Week 40; n= 47, 106, 346.44.70
Renal Total; Week 44; n= 49, 103, 356.11.02.9
Renal Total; Week 48; n= 47, 101, 3210.65.96.3
Renal Total; Week 52; n= 49, 103, 328.23.93.1
Renal Total; Week 60; n=47, 96, 306.44.20
Renal Total; Week 64; n= 50, 99, 292.02.00
Renal Total; Week 72; n= 40, 89, 265.04.50
Renal Total; Week 80; n= 41, 90, 2914.63.36.9
Renal Total; Week 88; n= 44, 85, 2913.61.20
Renal Total; Week 96; n= 43, 85, 294.71.20
Renal Total; Week 104; n= 44, 90, 306.82.20
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 4; n= 13, 18, 415.45.60
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 8; n= 12, 18, 48.311.10
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 12; n= 12, 18, 48.316.70
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 16; n= 12, 18, 405.60
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 20; n= 12, 18, 425.05.60
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 24; n= 11, 17, 418.25.90
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 26; n= 10, 17, 420.011.80
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 28; n= 10, 17, 4011.80
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 32; n= 10, 17, 410.05.90
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 36; n= 10, 17, 405.90
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 40; n= 10, 17, 420.011.80
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 44; n= 10, 17, 410.000
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 48; n=10, 16, 306.30
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 52; n= 10, 17, 405.925.0
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 60; n= 9, 17, 411.111.80
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 64; n= 10, 16, 406.325.0
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 72; n=10, 16, 4206.325.0
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 80; n= 9, 17, 40025.0
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 88; n= 9, 16, 406.325.0
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 96; n= 9, 15, 411.1025.0
Mucocutaneous Total; Week 104; n= 9, 17, 411.15.90
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 4; n= 68, 132, 452.90.80
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 8; n= 63, 128, 4400.80
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 12; n= 64, 130, 4400.80
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 16; n= 64, 126, 443.100
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 20; n= 63, 124, 441.60.80
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 24; n= 60, 123, 43000
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 26; n=59, 112, 40000
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 28; n= 61, 120, 433.30.80
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 32; n= 60, 120, 431.700
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 36; n= 60, 120, 431.700
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 40; n=60, 119, 43000
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 44; n= 60, 117, 431.700
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 48; n= 57, 116, 40002.5
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 52; n=61, 116, 40000
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 60; n= 58, 114, 37000
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 64; n= 59, 114, 3600.90
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 72; n= 55, 106, 33000
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 80; n= 54, 107, 371.900
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 88; n= 56, 104, 361.800
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 96; n=51, 104, 3501.00
Cardio and Resp Total; Week 104; n= 52, 109, 36000
Immunologic Total; Week 4; n=23, 37, 1317.407.7
Immunologic Total; Week 8; n=20, 37, 1220.010.80
Immunologic Total; Week 12; n=21, 37,1223.88.116.7
Immunologic Total; Week 16; n= 21, 35, 129.511.40
Immunologic Total; Week 20; n= 19, 35, 1215.811.40
Immunologic Total; Week 24; n= 18, 35, 125.65.70
Immunologic Total; Week 26; n= 18, 30, 125.66.78.3
Immunologic Total; Week 28; n= 19, 35, 1215.88.616.7
Immunologic Total; Week 32; n= 19, 33, 1210.512.18.3
Immunologic Total; Week 36; n= 19, 34, 1215.88.816.7
Immunologic Total; Week 40; n= 19, 33, 1221.16.18.3
Immunologic Total; Week 44; n= 18, 33, 1222.200
Immunologic Total; Week 48; n= 18, 33, 1122.23.027.3
Immunologic Total; Week 52; n= 19, 32, 1221.13.18.3
Immunologic Total; Week 60; n= 18, 32, 1016.76.30
Immunologic Total; Week 64; n= 19, 33, 1021.16.120.0
Immunologic Total; Week 72; n= 17, 28, 923.57.111.1
Immunologic Total; Week 80; n= 18, 29, 115.66.918.2
Immunologic Total; Week 88; n= 19, 29, 1110.56.918.2
Immunologic Total; Week 96; n= 16, 30, 1112.513.318.2
Immunologic Total; Week 104; n= 17, 28, 1211.817.916.7
Hematologic Total; Week 4; n= 59, 115, 405.13.55.0
Hematologic Total; Week 8; n= 52, 109, 383.85.50
Hematologic Total; Week 12; n= 55, 110, 381.84.510.5
Hematologic Total; Week 16; n=54, 107, 341.92.82.9
Hematologic Total; Week 20; n= 54, 108, 405.65.65.0
Hematologic Total; Week 24; n= 53, 111, 373.82.72.7
Hematologic Total; Week 26; n= 53, 101, 379.45.010.8
Hematologic Total; Week 28; n= 52, 106, 397.73.85.1
Hematologic Total; Week 32; n=52, 110, 3804.57.9
Hematologic Total; Week 36; n= 53, 109, 405.76.42.5
Hematologic Total; Week 40; n= 51, 108, 37010.25.4
Hematologic Total; Week 44; n=53, 107, 387.56.55.3
Hematologic Total; Week 48; n=51, 105, 355.94.80
Hematologic Total; Week 52; n= 53, 103, 373.83.92.7
Hematologic Total; Week 60; n=53, 101, 359.45.05.7
Hematologic Total; Week 64; n=54, 98, 3211.15.16.3
Hematologic Total; Week 72; n= 47,96, 2910.65.23.4
Hematologic Total; Week 80; n= 45, 94, 3504.35.7
Hematologic Total; Week 88; n= 46, 88, 3210.99.13.1
Hematologic Total; Week 96; n= 45, 90, 324.44.43.1
Hematologic Total; Week 104; n= 46, 94, 324.36.46.3
SecondaryChange From Baseline in Physician Global Assessment (PGA) by Visits

The Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) was a physician-reported visual analogue scale that provides an overall measure of the participant's current disease activity. Physician's Global Assessment was collected on a 10 centimeter (cm) visual analogue scale (VAS) by placing a mark on the scale between 0 (no disease activity) to 10 (maximum disease activity). The PGA score was then rescaled for reporting by multiplying the collected score by 3 divided by 10. Hence, the PGA score ranges from 0 to 3 with higher scores indicating greater disease activity. Baseline value was the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as the post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

Time frame:
Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104
Reported as:
Mean · Scores on a scale
Change From Baseline in Physician Global Assessment (PGA) by Visits
Scores on a scaleBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 4; n=72, 142, 45-0.285 ± 0.4816-0.247 ± 0.4640-0.303 ± 0.5464
Week 8; n=66, 135, 44-0.535 ± 0.5134-0.520 ± 0.5243-0.585 ± 0.5793
Week 12; n=66, 137, 44-0.592 ± 0.5265-0.660 ± 0.5776-0.654 ± 0.5450
Week 16; n=68, 132, 44-0.619 ± 0.5475-0.717 ± 0.5802-0.759 ± 0.6072
Week 20; n=66, 130, 44-0.697 ± 0.6157-0.787 ± 0.5445-0.786 ± 0.6772
Week 24; n=62, 130, 43-0.770 ± 0.5888-0.766 ± 0.5059-0.965 ± 0.6413
Week 26; n=62, 120, 40-0.786 ± 0.5727-0.811 ± 0.5445-0.929 ± 0.6631
Week 28; n=63, 127, 43-0.781 ± 0.5395-0.817 ± 0.5360-0.980 ± 0.6286
Week 32; n=62, 124, 43-0.851 ± 0.5989-0.864 ± 0.5519-1.005 ± 0.6723
Week 36; n=64, 126, 43-0.916 ± 0.6141-0.927 ± 0.5400-0.917 ± 0.5504
Week 40; n=63, 126, 43-0.893 ± 0.6157-0.925 ± 0.5621-0.993 ± 0.6711
Week 44; n=63, 124, 43-0.800 ± 0.6764-0.905 ± 0.5289-0.970 ± 0.6065
Week 48; n=59, 121, 40-0.885 ± 0.6178-0.928 ± 0.5627-0.956 ± 0.5175
Week 52; n=64, 122, 41-0.947 ± 0.6918-0.938 ± 0.6125-1.004 ± 0.5527
Week 60; n=61, 120, 37-0.836 ± 0.6982-0.848 ± 0.6085-1.206 ± 0.5917
Week 64; n=62, 120, 36-0.876 ± 0.6971-0.943 ± 0.5711-1.095 ± 0.6365
Week 72; n=58, 110, 33-0.928 ± 0.6838-0.944 ± 0.5708-1.047 ± 0.6088
Week 80; n=57, 112, 37-0.949 ± 0.6909-0.954 ± 0.6221-1.138 ± 0.5574
Week 88; n=59, 109, 36-1.060 ± 0.6307-0.993 ± 0.5733-1.140 ± 0.5514
Week 96; n=54, 109, 35-1.016 ± 0.6093-0.994 ± 0.5669-1.214 ± 0.5580
Week 104; n=55, 114, 36-1.052 ± 0.5095-1.074 ± 0.5166-1.085 ± 0.5987
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) -American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Damage Index Worsening Compared With Baseline at Week 52 and Week 104

The SLICC-ACR Damage Index measures irreversible (not related to active inflammation) changes occurring since the diagnosis of SLE ascertained by clinical assessment and present for at least 6 months. The questionnaire contains 39 items covering 12 different organ systems which were scored on a numerical scale between 0 (no damage) to 7 (increasing disease damage). Individual ranges for organ systems were; ocular: 0-2, neuropsychiatric: 0-6, renal: 0-3, pulmonary: 0-5, cardiovascular:0-6, peripheral vascular: 0-5, gastrointestinal:0-5, musculoskeletal: 0-6, skin: 0-3, endocrine (diabetes): 0-1, gonadal:0-1 and malignancies: 0-2. The SLICC-ACR score was calculated by taking sum of the individual scores for 12 organ systems which ranges from 0 (no damage) to 45 (increasing disease damage) where higher score indicates increasing disease damage severity. Baseline value was the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits.

Time frame:
Baseline (Day 1), Week 52 and Week 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) -American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Damage Index Worsening Compared With Baseline at Week 52 and Week 104
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 521.4 (0 to 4.1)2.1 (0 to 4.4)2.1 (0 to 6.3)
Week 1045.6 (0.3 to 10.8)5.6 (1.8 to 9.3)6.4 (0 to 13.4)
Statistical analysis
  • Belimumab + Placebo vs Belimumab + Rituximab · Regression, Logistic · p = 0.7102 · Odds ratio (or): 1.55 · 95% CI 0.15 to 15.70Odds ratio at Week 52 was calculated using Logistic regression model with covariates:Baseline SLEDAI-2K,Baseline immunosuppressant,Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab+ Standard therapy arm was excluded from the model.
  • Belimumab + Rituximab vs Belimumab + Standard Therapy · Odds ratio (or): 1.06 · 95% CI 0.10 to 10.71Odds ratio at Week 52 was calculated using Logistic regression model with covariates:Baseline SLEDAI-2K,Baseline immunosuppressant, Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Placebo arm was excluded from the model.
  • Belimumab + Placebo vs Belimumab + Rituximab · Regression, Logistic · p = 0.8641 · Odds ratio (or): 0.90 · 95% CI 0.26 to 3.15Odds ratio at Week 104 was calculated using Logistic regression model with covariates:Baseline SLEDAI-2K,Baseline immunosuppressant,Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Standard therapy arm was excluded from the model.
  • Belimumab + Rituximab vs Belimumab + Standard Therapy · Odds ratio (or): 1.22 · 95% CI 0.26 to 5.64Odds ratio at Week 104 was calculated using Logistic regression model with covariates:Baseline SLEDAI-2K,Baseline immunosuppressant,Baseline prednisone equivalent dose and treatment group. Belimumab + Placebo arm was excluded from the model.
SecondaryPercentage of Participants That Met the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) Response Criteria by Visits (PI Assessed)

Lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) was defined as a state which, if sustained, was associated with a low likelihood of adverse outcome, considering disease activity and medication safety. The LLDAS response criteria were: (1) SLEDAI-2K \<=4, with no activity in major organ systems (renal, CNS, cardiopulmonary, vasculitis, fever) and no hemolytic anemia or gastrointestinal activity; (2) no new features of lupus disease activity compared with the previous assessment; (3) PGA (scale 0-3), \<=1; (4) current prednisolone (or equivalent) dose \<=7.5 mg daily; and (5) well tolerated standard maintenance doses of immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents, excluding investigational drugs. Percentage of participants that met the LLDAS response criteria were reported.

Time frame:
Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96 and 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants That Met the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) Response Criteria by Visits (PI Assessed)
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 40 (NA to NA)2.1 (0 to 4.4)2.1 (0 to 6.3)
Week 89.7 (2.9 to 16.6)1.4 (0 to 3.3)10.6 (1.8 to 19.5)
Week 128.3 (1.9 to 14.7)9.7 (4.9 to 14.6)6.4 (0 to 13.4)
Week 1611.1 (3.9 to 18.4)16.7 (10.6 to 22.8)19.1 (7.9 to 30.4)
Week 2011.1 (3.9 to 18.4)25.7 (18.6 to 32.8)19.1 (7.9 to 30.4)
Week 2412.5 (4.9 to 20.1)22.2 (15.4 to 29.0)36.2 (22.4 to 49.9)
Week 2622.2 (12.6 to 31.8)25.7 (18.6 to 32.8)34.0 (20.5 to 47.6)
Week 2820.8 (11.5 to 30.2)25.0 (17.9 to 32.1)34.0 (20.5 to 47.6)
Week 3229.2 (18.7 to 39.7)31.9 (24.3 to 39.6)36.2 (22.4 to 49.9)
Week 3630.6 (19.9 to 41.2)34.0 (26.3 to 41.8)29.8 (16.7 to 42.9)
Week 4022.2 (12.6 to 31.8)33.3 (25.6 to 41.0)38.3 (24.4 to 52.2)
Week 4430.6 (19.9 to 41.2)37.5 (29.6 to 45.4)31.9 (18.6 to 45.2)
Week 4826.4 (16.2 to 36.6)37.5 (29.6 to 45.4)31.9 (18.6 to 45.2)
Week 5227.8 (17.4 to 38.1)34.0 (26.3 to 41.8)29.8 (16.7 to 42.9)
Week 6026.4 (16.2 to 36.6)23.6 (16.7 to 30.5)36.2 (22.4 to 49.9)
Week 6420.8 (11.5 to 30.2)30.6 (23.0 to 38.1)31.9 (18.6 to 45.2)
Week 7222.2 (12.6 to 31.8)31.3 (23.7 to 38.8)31.9 (18.6 to 45.2)
Week 8018.1 (9.2 to 26.9)26.4 (19.2 to 33.6)34.0 (20.5 to 47.6)
Week 8823.6 (13.8 to 33.4)24.3 (17.3 to 31.3)29.8 (16.7 to 42.9)
Week 9620.8 (11.5 to 30.2)30.6 (23.0 to 38.1)36.2 (22.4 to 49.9)
Week 10420.8 (11.5 to 30.2)32.6 (25.0 to 40.3)38.3 (24.4 to 52.2)
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control Using the PI Assessment of SLEDAI-2K by Visit

Percentage of participants with a state of disease control was defined as the percentage of participants with a SLEDAI-2K score \<=2, achieved without immunosuppressants and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of \<=5 mg/day, using the PI assessment of SLEDAI-2K. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. SLEDAI-2K score was the sum of all 24 individual items from SLEDAI-2K, ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 105 (presence of all defined symptoms), higher scores representing increased disease activity. Percentage of participants with a state of disease control using the PI assessment of SLEDAI-2K were summarized.

Time frame:
Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Disease Control Using the PI Assessment of SLEDAI-2K by Visit
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 42.8 (0 to 6.6)3.5 (0.5 to 6.5)8.5 (0.5 to 16.5)
Week 813.9 (5.9 to 21.9)9.0 (4.3 to 13.7)21.3 (9.6 to 33.0)
Week 1211.1 (3.9 to 18.4)12.5 (7.1 to 17.9)19.1 (7.9 to 30.4)
Week 1615.3 (7.0 to 23.6)22.2 (15.4 to 29.0)29.8 (16.7 to 42.9)
Week 2013.9 (5.9 to 21.9)24.3 (17.3 to 31.3)31.9 (18.6 to 45.2)
Week 2418.1 (9.2 to 26.9)25.0 (17.9 to 32.1)34.0 (20.5 to 47.6)
Week 2615.3 (7.0 to 23.6)25.7 (18.6 to 32.8)25.5 (13.1 to 38.0)
Week 2811.1 (3.9 to 18.4)25.7 (18.6 to 32.8)36.2 (22.4 to 49.9)
Week 3215.3 (7.0 to 23.6)28.5 (21.1 to 35.8)31.9 (18.6 to 45.2)
Week 3619.4 (10.3 to 28.6)27.8 (20.5 to 35.1)27.7 (14.9 to 40.4)
Week 4016.7 (8.1 to 25.3)24.3 (17.3 to 31.3)23.4 (11.3 to 35.5)
Week 4418.1 (9.2 to 26.9)26.4 (19.2 to 33.6)27.7 (14.9 to 40.4)
Week 4818.1 (9.2 to 26.9)26.4 (19.2 to 33.6)27.7 (14.9 to 40.4)
Week 5219.4 (10.3 to 28.6)20.1 (13.6 to 26.7)27.7 (14.9 to 40.4)
Week 6018.1 (9.2 to 26.9)20.8 (14.2 to 27.5)23.4 (11.3 to 35.5)
Week 6411.1 (3.9 to 18.4)18.1 (11.8 to 24.3)27.7 (14.9 to 40.4)
Week 729.7 (2.9 to 16.6)12.5 (7.1 to 17.9)23.4 (11.3 to 35.5)
Week 808.3 (1.9 to 14.7)13.2 (7.7 to 18.7)31.9 (18.6 to 45.2)
Week 8811.1 (3.9 to 18.4)9.7 (4.9 to 14.6)21.3 (9.6 to 33.0)
Week 968.3 (1.9 to 14.7)12.5 (7.1 to 17.9)31.9 (18.6 to 45.2)
Week 1048.3 (1.9 to 14.7)11.8 (6.5 to 17.1)23.4 (11.3 to 35.5)
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission Using the PI Assessment of SLEDAI-2K by Visit

Percentage of participants with a state of clinical remission was defined as the percentage of participants with a clinical SLEDAI-2K score =0 (does not include anti-dsDNA and complement activity scores), achieved without immunosuppressants (which was allowed in Belimumab+ Standard therapy arm only) and with corticosteroids at a prednisone equivalent dose of 0 mg/day using the PI assessment of SLEDAI-2K. SLEDAI-2K consisted of 24 individual items within each of 9 organ systems. Each item was given a weighted score (1 to 8, higher score indicates increased activity) and summed if present at the time of visit or in preceding 10 days. The clinical SLEDAI-2K score was sum of 22 out of all 24 individual items from the SLEDAI-2K and ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 101 (presence of all defined symptoms) with higher scores representing increased disease activity. Percentage of participants with a state of clinical remission using the PI assessment of SLEDAI-2K were summarized.

Time frame:
Weeks 60, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96 and 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With a State of Clinical Remission Using the PI Assessment of SLEDAI-2K by Visit
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 606.9 (1.1 to 12.8)3.5 (0.5 to 6.5)10.6 (1.8 to 19.5)
Week 646.9 (1.1 to 12.8)5.6 (1.8 to 9.3)10.6 (1.8 to 19.5)
Week 726.9 (1.1 to 12.8)3.5 (0.5 to 6.5)14.9 (4.7 to 25.1)
Week 806.9 (1.1 to 12.8)4.2 (0.9 to 7.4)14.9 (4.7 to 25.1)
Week 886.9 (1.1 to 12.8)2.1 (0 to 4.4)14.9 (4.7 to 25.1)
Week 964.2 (0 to 8.8)4.2 (0.9 to 7.4)12.8 (3.2 to 22.3)
Week 1042.8 (0 to 6.6)3.5 (0.5 to 6.5)6.4 (0 to 13.4)
SecondaryNumber of Participants With Serious Adverse Events (SAE) and Non-serious AE (Non-SAE)

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of a study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. A SAE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose results in death, is life-threatening, requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent disability/incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect or any other situations as per medical or scientific judgment. Data for number of participants with SAE and non-SAE (\>=5 %) has been summarized.

Time frame:
Up to Week 111 (including 8 weeks of safety follow-up)
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Serious Adverse Events (SAE) and Non-serious AE (Non-SAE)
ParticipantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
SAE103215
non-SAE4810953
SecondaryNumber of Participants With Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs)

An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of a study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. AESIs were Malignant Neoplasms, Post-Injection Systemic Reactions (PISR), All Infections of Special Interest (Opportunistic Infections (OI), Herpes Zoster (HZ), Tuberculosis (TB), and Sepsis), Depression (including mood disorders and anxiety)/suicide/self-injury and Deaths. Data for number of participants with AESIs has been summarized.

Time frame:
Up to Week 104
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs)
ParticipantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Malignant Neoplasms111
PISR7194
All Infections of Special Interest5125
Depression/suicide/self-injury9165
Deaths120
SecondaryChange From Baseline in Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) by Visits

The Patient's Global Assessment (PtGA) of Disease Activity is a single-item, participant reported scale developed for the assessment of the participant's overall rating of their disease activity due to SLE. The scale measures disease activity ranging from 0 (Very Well) to 10 (Very Poor) and the higher score indicates severe disease activity. Baseline value was the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as the post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

Time frame:
Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 8, 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 72 and 104
Reported as:
Mean · Scores on a scale
Change From Baseline in Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) by Visits
Scores on a scaleBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 8; n=66, 132, 44-0.96 ± 2.751-1.06 ± 2.141-0.91 ± 2.848
Week 12; n=66, 133, 44-0.69 ± 2.237-1.07 ± 2.290-1.57 ± 2.756
Week 26; n=61, 115, 40-0.95 ± 2.765-1.50 ± 2.596-1.57 ± 2.450
Week 40; n=63, 123, 43-1.77 ± 2.624-1.60 ± 2.809-1.67 ± 2.962
Week 52; n=64, 120, 41-1.74 ± 2.752-1.82 ± 2.631-1.84 ± 3.228
Week 64; n=62, 117, 36-1.41 ± 2.985-1.96 ± 2.595-1.96 ± 3.034
Week 72; n=59, 107, 33-1.46 ± 3.209-1.81 ± 2.609-1.43 ± 3.487
Week 104; n=55, 111, 36-1.61 ± 2.589-2.00 ± 2.739-1.98 ± 2.895
SecondaryChange From Baseline in Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL) Domain Scores by Visit

LupusQoL is a SLE-specific health related qualify of life (HRQOL) instrument with 34 questions across 8 domains:Physical health(8 items),Pain(3 items),Planning(3 items),Intimate relationship(2 items),Burden to others(3 items),Emotional health(6 items),Body image(5 items),Fatigue(4 items). Questions were related to participants experience in prior 4 weeks.A 5-point Likert response format was used, ranging from 0(all of the time) to 4(never) for each question. Individual domain scores were reported which were calculated by taking sum of responses to all items within each domain. Individual domain scores range:Physical health(0-32),Pain(0-12),Planning(0-12),Intimate relationship(0-8),Burden to others(0-12),Emotional health(0-24),Body image(0-20),Fatigue(0-16). Higher score indicates better HRQOL. Baseline value was latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

Time frame:
Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 8, 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 72 and 104
Reported as:
Mean · Scores on a scale
Change From Baseline in Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL) Domain Scores by Visit
Scores on a scaleBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Physical health; Week 8; n=66, 132, 443.0 ± 15.206.0 ± 15.086.3 ± 18.79
Physical health; Week 12; n=66, 133, 443.5 ± 16.605.8 ± 17.156.4 ± 20.06
Physical health; Week 26; n=61, 115, 403.3 ± 18.7410.5 ± 17.2711.6 ± 19.19
Physical health; Week 40; n=63, 122, 438.5 ± 19.539.5 ± 19.298.2 ± 19.46
Physical health; Week 52; n=64, 120, 418.1 ± 19.9010.0 ± 20.1611.6 ± 19.53
Physical health; Week 64; n=62, 117, 365.8 ± 18.6610.2 ± 18.609.5 ± 21.74
Physical health; Week 72; n=59, 107, 337.0 ± 21.139.1 ± 18.848.5 ± 22.59
Physical health; Week 104; n=55, 111, 366.2 ± 20.1910.6 ± 19.967.2 ± 23.33
Pain; Week 8; n=66, 132, 445.8 ± 19.6711.4 ± 18.5510.4 ± 21.87
Pain; Week 12; n=66, 133, 447.5 ± 19.7813.0 ± 20.816.1 ± 28.44
Pain; Week 26; n=61, 115, 407.0 ± 22.4217.2 ± 21.5413.1 ± 22.79
Pain; Week 40; n=63, 122, 4312.3 ± 23.1818.0 ± 22.7012.6 ± 29.17
Pain; Week 52; n=64, 120, 4113.9 ± 24.2617.6 ± 23.6215.7 ± 27.34
Pain; Week 64; n=62, 117, 3610.2 ± 21.8917.4 ± 23.5913.2 ± 26.90
Pain; Week 72; n=59, 107, 3313.1 ± 24.9117.0 ± 22.6611.9 ± 29.02
Pain; Week 104; n=55, 111, 3613.8 ± 25.8219.0 ± 22.5912.5 ± 27.92
Planning; Week 8; n=66, 132, 443.4 ± 19.778.0 ± 18.2110.0 ± 27.88
Planning; Week 12; n=66, 133, 444.5 ± 23.037.6 ± 20.157.8 ± 27.81
Planning; Week 26; n=61, 115, 403.4 ± 25.209.9 ± 21.2812.1 ± 27.86
Planning; Week 40; n=63, 122, 4311.6 ± 29.0812.2 ± 22.3010.7 ± 26.62
Planning; Week 52; n=64, 120, 4111.6 ± 28.6612.6 ± 23.8914.0 ± 28.35
Planning; Week 64; n=62, 117, 367.8 ± 24.4214.5 ± 23.657.2 ± 30.55
Planning; Week 72; n=59, 107, 339.2 ± 30.7811.4 ± 20.976.6 ± 31.02
Planning; Week 104; n=55, 111, 3612.1 ± 30.7614.2 ± 20.778.8 ± 34.96
Intimate relationship; Week 8; n=51, 110, 36-1.2 ± 21.835.2 ± 20.637.6 ± 19.66
Intimate relationship; Week 12; n=52, 106, 36-2.6 ± 25.164.6 ± 23.427.6 ± 27.10
Intimate relationship; Week 26; n=48, 86, 30-1.3 ± 29.208.9 ± 24.3214.2 ± 28.38
Intimate relationship; Week 40; n=50, 94, 304.3 ± 28.757.7 ± 25.0115.8 ± 30.43
Intimate relationship; Week 52; n=51, 91, 304.7 ± 29.366.6 ± 22.5415.8 ± 30.78
Intimate relationship; Week 64; n=47, 90, 25-4.5 ± 28.0011.0 ± 25.4112.5 ± 29.76
Intimate relationship; Week 72; n=42, 83, 210.0 ± 31.608.6 ± 23.825.4 ± 39.44
Intimate relationship; Week 104; n=40, 85,27-0.3 ± 23.9311.2 ± 25.594.6 ± 35.21
Burden to others; Week 8; n=66, 132, 447.3 ± 22.956.8 ± 20.5610.6 ± 23.46
Burden to others; Week 12; n=66, 133, 4411.4 ± 27.918.4 ± 23.656.4 ± 29.90
Burden to others; Week 26; n=61, 115, 408.7 ± 26.6810.5 ± 27.427.5 ± 27.66
Burden to others; Week 40; n=63, 122, 4313.9 ± 27.2312.6 ± 26.9412.0 ± 27.66
Burden to others; Week 52; n=64, 120, 4116.5 ± 29.1514.9 ± 27.0315.0 ± 33.40
Burden to others; Week 64; n=62, 117, 3614.4 ± 28.8317.0 ± 26.6712.3 ± 28.21
Burden to others; Week 72; n=59, 107, 3317.1 ± 28.6814.4 ± 28.7711.1 ± 27.85
Burden to others; Week 104; n=55, 111, 3618.9 ± 25.9315.0 ± 29.2512.7 ± 33.42
Emotional health; Week 8; n=66, 132, 445.2 ± 18.336.4 ± 16.8711.6 ± 20.55
Emotional health; Week 12; n=66, 133, 448.1 ± 17.324.5 ± 19.679.1 ± 23.87
Emotional health; Week 26; n=61,115, 407.7 ± 19.846.7 ± 17.3510.1 ± 18.12
Emotional health; Week 40; n=63, 122, 439.7 ± 21.446.7 ± 20.859.4 ± 22.20
Emotional health; Week 52; n=64, 120, 4110.2 ± 21.487.8 ± 20.6311.4 ± 21.99
Emotional health; Week 64; n=62, 117, 368.1 ± 20.759.3 ± 20.738.1 ± 22.11
Emotional health; Week 72; n=59, 107, 338.8 ± 21.396.2 ± 19.056.6 ± 21.80
Emotional health; Week 104; n=55, 111, 366.8 ± 20.209.3 ± 19.6710.5 ± 23.00
Body image; Week 8; n=60, 114, 375.7 ± 19.578.9 ± 19.265.7 ± 25.05
Body image; Week 12; n=58, 118, 391.9 ± 23.2310.1 ± 20.735.9 ± 26.89
Body image; Week 26; n=56, 96, 335.8 ± 20.629.0 ± 25.035.7 ± 23.07
Body image; Week 40; n=54, 103, 358.9 ± 25.428.2 ± 24.825.1 ± 22.07
Body image; Week 52; n=55, 101, 337.9 ± 25.779.1 ± 24.0710.3 ± 25.24
Body image; Week 64; n=52, 98, 276.0 ± 22.5111.3 ± 23.087.7 ± 23.98
Body image; Week 72; n=44, 93, 257.8 ± 26.748.7 ± 24.912.5 ± 29.28
Body image; Week 104; n=48, 94, 284.4 ± 26.6211.4 ± 25.653.5 ± 27.40
Fatigue; Week 8; n=66,132, 449.8 ± 17.029.2 ± 18.408.5 ± 24.30
Fatigue; Week 12; n=66, 133, 448.2 ± 18.487.0 ± 17.9610.4 ± 28.11
Fatigue; Week 26; n=61, 115, 408.6 ± 20.2311.4 ± 20.1211.9 ± 20.21
Fatigue; Week 40; n=63, 122, 4311.9 ± 22.3310.3 ± 22.4111.3 ± 24.75
Fatigue; Week 52; n=64, 120, 4114.2 ± 21.1712.0 ± 20.9516.6 ± 25.30
Fatigue; Week 64; n=62, 117, 3610.5 ± 21.9414.0 ± 20.3510.8 ± 25.21
Fatigue; Week 72; n=59, 107, 3312.1 ± 22.7413.1 ± 18.3111.6 ± 25.87
Fatigue; Week 104; n=55, 111, 369.4 ± 20.4114.3 ± 20.189.7 ± 24.25
SecondaryChange From Baseline in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue Score by Visit

The FACIT-Fatigue scale was a 13-item questionnaire completed by the participant, which provides a measure of fatigue/quality of life, with a 7-day recall period. The participant scored each item on a 5-point scale: 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The higher score for the questions, the greater the fatigue. The total score was the sum of the responses from all questions (inverted for reversed items) multiplied by 13, then divided by the number of questions answered, ranging from 0 (worse fatigue) to 52 (no fatigue) where a higher score indicates an improvement in the participant's health status and decrease in the score indicates worse fatigue/quality of life. Baseline value was the latest pre-dose assessment with a non-missing value, including those from unscheduled visits. Change from Baseline was defined as the post-dose visit value minus Baseline value.

Time frame:
Baseline (Day 1) and Weeks 8, 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 72 and 104
Reported as:
Mean · Scores on a scale
Change From Baseline in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue Score by Visit
Scores on a scaleBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 8; n=66, 132, 444.2 ± 9.844.6 ± 8.844.8 ± 8.25
Week 12; n=66, 133, 444.7 ± 9.504.0 ± 9.863.8 ± 10.94
Week 26; n=61, 115, 403.1 ± 10.085.4 ± 9.174.1 ± 8.54
Week 40; n=63, 122, 436.0 ± 10.185.2 ± 10.805.2 ± 10.14
Week 52; n=64, 120, 416.5 ± 10.126.1 ± 10.845.1 ± 10.51
Week 64;n=62, 117, 364.9 ± 10.616.2 ± 9.724.6 ± 10.32
Week 72; n=59, 107, 335.6 ± 10.215.2 ± 10.312.9 ± 12.75
Week 104; n=55, 111, 365.7 ± 9.077.1 ± 11.503.1 ± 10.30
SecondaryPercentage of Participants With Improvement in FACIT-Fatigue Score Exceeding the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID, Greater Than or Equal to [>=]4)

The FACIT-Fatigue scale was a 13-item questionnaire completed by the participant, which provides a measure of fatigue/quality of life, with a 7-day recall period. The participant scored each item on a 5-point scale: 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The larger the participant's response to the questions, the greater the fatigue. The total score was the sum of the responses (inverted for reversed items) multiplied by 13, then divided by the number of questions answered, ranging from 0 (worse fatigue) to 52 (no fatigue) where a higher score indicates an improvement in the participant's health status and decrease in the score indicates worse fatigue/quality of life. A participant was considered to had an improvement exceeding the minimal clinically important difference if they had \>=4 points improvement in their FACIT-Fatigue Scale score from Baseline. Percentage of participants with improvement in FACIT-Fatigue scale score exceeding the MCID (\>=4 points) were summarized.

Time frame:
Weeks 8, 12, 26, 40, 52, 64, 72 and 104
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants With Improvement in FACIT-Fatigue Score Exceeding the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID, Greater Than or Equal to [>=]4)
Percentage of participantsBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Week 8; n=66, 132, 4447.0 (34.9 to 59.0)51.5 (43.0 to 60.0)59.1 (44.6 to 73.6)
Week 12; n=66, 133, 4456.1 (44.1 to 68.0)50.4 (41.9 to 58.9)52.3 (37.5 to 67.0)
Week 26; n=61, 115, 4047.5 (35.0 to 60.1)56.5 (47.5 to 65.6)45.0 (29.6 to 60.4)
Week 40; n=63, 122, 4354.0 (41.7 to 66.3)54.1 (45.3 to 62.9)53.5 (38.6 to 68.4)
Week 52; n=64, 120, 4160.9 (49.0 to 72.9)58.3 (49.5 to 67.2)56.1 (40.9 to 71.3)
Week 64; n=62, 117, 3651.6 (39.2 to 64.1)59.8 (50.9 to 68.7)52.8 (36.5 to 69.1)
Week 72; n=59, 107, 3357.6 (45.0 to 70.2)57.0 (47.6 to 66.4)42.4 (25.6 to 59.3)
Week 104; n=55, 111, 3656.4 (43.3 to 69.5)62.2 (53.1 to 71.2)44.4 (28.2 to 60.7)

Adverse events

Collected over All-cause mortality, serious adverse events (SAEs) and non-SAEs were collected up to Week 111 (including 8 weeks of safety follow-up).. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Belimumab + Placebo1/72 (1.4%)10/72 (13.9%)48/72 (66.7%)
Belimumab + Rituximab2/144 (1.4%)32/144 (22.2%)109/144 (75.7%)
Belimumab + Standard Therapy0/76 (0%)15/76 (19.7%)53/76 (69.7%)
Most frequent serious events
Showing 10 of 79
Most frequent serious events
EventBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
Chest painGeneral disorders1/721/1440/76
Musculoskeletal painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders1/721/1440/76
Urinary tract infectionInfections and infestations0/722/1440/76
VasculitisVascular disorders0/722/1440/76
AngioedemaSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders1/720/1440/76
Arthritis bacterialInfections and infestations1/720/1440/76
Cardiac failure congestiveCardiac disorders1/720/1440/76
CholangiocarcinomaNeoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)1/720/1440/76
GastritisGastrointestinal disorders1/720/1440/76
Jugular vein thrombosisVascular disorders1/720/1440/76
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 26
Most frequent other events
EventBelimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard Therapy
HeadacheNervous system disorders13/7230/1448/76
Urinary tract infectionInfections and infestations12/7223/14410/76
NasopharyngitisInfections and infestations9/7223/14411/76
Upper respiratory tract infectionInfections and infestations5/7222/1449/76
ArthralgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders5/7212/14410/76
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders2/7218/1442/76
InfluenzaInfections and infestations9/724/1444/76
BronchitisInfections and infestations6/7210/1447/76
DiarrhoeaGastrointestinal disorders6/726/1445/76
Systemic lupus erythematosusMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders6/723/1442/76

Baseline characteristics

Baseline characteristics were presented for Intent-to-Treat Population.

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(Years)Belimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard TherapyTotal
Mean40.6 ± 12.5840.1 ± 11.4541.0 ± 12.7540.5 ± 12.04
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Belimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard TherapyTotal
Female6612973268
Male615324
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity, Customized(Participants)Belimumab + PlaceboBelimumab + RituximabBelimumab + Standard TherapyTotal
White -Arabic/North African Heritage0112
White-White/Caucasian/European Heritage3910047186
Asian - Central/South Asian Heritage0112
Asian - East Asian Heritage7141031
Asian - South East Asian Heritage3216
African American/African Heritage21221356
American Indian or Alaskan Native1337
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander1102
08

Study locations

79 sites
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    La Mesa, California 92020, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    San Leandro, California 94578, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Upland, California 91786, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Denver, Colorado 80230, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Aventura, Florida 33180, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Miami, Florida 33136, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Orlando, Florida 32806-6264, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Tamarac, Florida 33321, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Tampa, Florida 33613, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Tampa, Florida 33614, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5542, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Brighton, Michigan 48116, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Lansing, Michigan 48910, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Lansing, Michigan 48917, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Las Cruces, New Mexico 88011, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Manhasset, New York 11030, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    New York, New York 10016, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    New York, New York 10032, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Charlotte, North Carolina 28204, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Vandalia, Ohio 45377, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Summerville, South Carolina 29486, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Austin, Texas 78731, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    League City, Texas 77573, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Spokane, Washington 99204, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Glendale, Wisconsin 53217, United States
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1046AAQ, Argentina
  • GSK Investigational Site
    La Plata, Buenos Aires B1904CFH,, Argentina
  • GSK Investigational Site
    San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán Province T4000AXL, Argentina
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Salvador, Estado de Bahia 40.150-150, Brazil
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Cuiabá, Mato Grosso 78043-142, Brazil
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36010-570, Brazil
  • GSK Investigational Site
    São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15090-000, Brazil
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Trois-Rivières, Quebec G8Z 1Y2, Canada
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 0H6, Canada
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Brest, 29609, France
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Lille, 59037, France
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Paris, 75013, France
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Paris, 75571, France
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Pessac, 33604, France
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Strasbourg, 67091, France
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Hanover, Lower Saxony 30625, Germany
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein 24105, Germany
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Frankfurt, 60590, Germany
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Zapopan, Jalisco 45070, Mexico
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Mérida, Yucatán 97070, Mexico
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Amersfoort, 3813 TZ, Netherlands
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Groningen, 9713 GZ, Netherlands
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Leiden, 2333 ZA, Netherlands
  • GSK Investigational Site
    The Hague, 2545 AA, Netherlands
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Utrecht, 3584 CX, Netherlands
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Chelyabinsk, 454076, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Kazan', 420097, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Kemerovo, 650066, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Moscow, 119435, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Novosibirsk, 630117, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Omsk, 644111, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Petrozavodsk, 185019, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Ryazan, 390026, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Saint Petersburg, 190068, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Ufa, 450005, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Ulyanovsk, 432063, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Yaroslavl, 150030, Russia
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Daegu, 700-721, South Korea
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Gwangju, 501-757, South Korea
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Incheon, 400-711, South Korea
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Seoul, 03080, South Korea
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Seoul, 133-792, South Korea
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Seoul, 137-701, South Korea
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Suwon, 443-380, South Korea
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Badalona, 08916, Spain
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Barcelona, 08035, Spain
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Valencia, 46017, Spain
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Valladolid, 47010, Spain
  • GSK Investigational Site
    Vigo (Pontevedra), 36214, Spain
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Aranow C, Allaart CF, Amoura Z, Bruce IN, Cagnoli PC, Chatham WW, Clark KL, Furie R, Groark J, Urowitz MB, van Vollenhoven R, Daniels M, Fox NL, Gregan YI, Henderson RB, van Maurik A, Ocran-Appiah JC, Oldham M, Roth DA, Shanahan D, Tak PP, Teng YO. Efficacy and safety of sequential therapy with subcutaneous belimumab and one cycle of rituximab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: the phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled BLISS-BELIEVE study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024 Oct 21;83(11):1502-1512. doi: 10.1136/ard-2024-225686. PubMed 39159997 ↗
  • Arends EJ, Zlei M, Tipton CM, Cotic J, Osmani Z, de Bie FJ, Kamerling SWA, van Maurik A, Dimelow R, Gregan YI, Fox NL, Rabelink TJ, Roth DA, Sanz I, van Dongen JJM, van Kooten C, Teng YKO. Disruption of memory B-cell trafficking by belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2024 Sep 1;63(9):2387-2398. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae286. PubMed 38775637 ↗
  • Hannon CW, McCourt C, Lima HC, Chen S, Bennett C. Interventions for cutaneous disease in systemic lupus erythematosus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Mar 9;3(3):CD007478. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007478.pub2. PubMed 33687069 ↗
  • Teng YKO, Bruce IN, Diamond B, Furie RA, van Vollenhoven RF, Gordon D, Groark J, Henderson RB, Oldham M, Tak PP. Phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 104-week study of subcutaneous belimumab administered in combination with rituximab in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): BLISS-BELIEVE study protocol. BMJ Open. 2019 Mar 20;9(3):e025687. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025687. PubMed 30898822 ↗
  • Parodis I, Lopez Benavides AH, Zickert A, Pettersson S, Moller S, Welin Henriksson E, Voss A, Gunnarsson I. The Impact of Belimumab and Rituximab on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2019 Jun;71(6):811-821. doi: 10.1002/acr.23718. PubMed 30055091 ↗

Study documents

  • Study protocol · Apr 30, 2020
  • Statistical analysis plan · Jul 22, 2021

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — GSK will assess requests from qualified researchers for anonymized individual patient-level data (IPD) and related study documents. Data sharing is subject to certain criteria, conditions, and exceptions. For further information, refer to https://www.gsk-studyregister.com/About_GSK_Patient_Level_Data_Sharing_Final_13July2023.pdf

Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form, Clinical study report

Time frame: Anonymized IPD is made available within 6 months of publication of primary, key secondary and safety results for studies in product with approved indication(s) or terminated asset(s) across all indications.

Access criteria: Anonymized IPD is shared with researchers whose proposals are approved by an Independent Review Panel and after a Data Sharing Agreement is in place. Access is provided for an initial period of 12 months but an extension may be granted, when justified, for up to 6 months.

Data sharing details ↗ · www.gsk-studyregister.com

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 18, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03312907
Lead sponsor
GlaxoSmithKline
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Oct 18, 2017
Start date
Mar 1, 2018
Primary completion
May 29, 2020
Completion
Jul 7, 2021
Results posted
Apr 25, 2022
Last update
Feb 18, 2025

Study contacts

GSK Clinical Trials
study director · GlaxoSmithKline

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Studies of the drug tested here: Rituximab

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