FDA Advisory Panel Begins Historic Review of BENLYSTA™ as Potential New Treatment for Lupus

On November 16, 2010, an FDA Advisory Panel will review scientific data on two late-stage clinical studies of an investigational medicine for the treatment of lupus, known as BENLYSTA™. This is a historic day for lupus as BENLYSTA could be the first new treatment approved for lupus by the FDA in 52 years, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was President of the United States. In addition, BENLYSTA would be the first treatment ever developed specifically for lupus to be approved by the FDA for lupus. Representatives of the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) will testify before the Advisory Panel during a hearing in College Park, Maryland. Throughout the day, LFA will report on the hearing through updates on Facebook, Twitter, and on the LFA website. Among the people to testify before the panel will be LFA President & CEO Sandra C. Raymond. On this video, Sandra reflects on the significance of this day and what it potentially represents for the estimated 1.5 million Americans and more than five million people worldwide who are living with lupus.