World Wide Music Fighting Lupus

About this campaign

Lupus—systemic lupus erythematosus—is a chronic and often disabling autoimmune disease. Estimates indicate that more than 1.5 million Americans have lupus. Most are young women of childbearing age, and suffer from such symptoms as intense fatigue and exhaustion, joint pains, thinking and memory problems, and skin rashes. No two cases of lupus are alike. Some people develop kidney problems, for example, while others get premature heart disease and others still suffer from strokes or develop lung inflammation. In 2011, the first lupus therapy in 50 years was approved with Benlysta (belimumab) Co-developed with Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline, Belimumab is an antibody that interferes with the immune system's assault by binding to and inhibiting a protein called the 'B-lymphocyte stimulator' (BLyS). Blocking BLyS is thought to cause the immune system's antibody-producing B cells to self-destruct, thereby reducing the body's ability to attack its own tissues.