The LA Times is reporting that Benlysta, a new drug designed to treat lupus, has passed an important second clinical trial. The drug's maker, Human Genome Sciences, plans to apply for FDA approval next year. If approved, Benlysta will be the first new treatment for lupus in 50 years.

In the clinical trial, 43.2% of patients who took Benlysta in addition to their usual treatment saw their symptoms reduced, compared to 33.8% of people on a placebo.

Earlier this month, La Jolla Pharmaceutical company halted the clinical trial of its possible lupus treatment drug Riquent. It was hoped the drug would stave off episodes of kidney inflammation caused by lupus.

An independent monitoring board called use of the drug “futile” after reviewing preliminary trial data. No new drug for lupus has been approved in 50 years.

There is just the smallest glimmer of hope, however, since La Jolla will have a chance to review the trial data and determine if its worth arguing against the monitoring board’s ruling.

Among lupus patients, La Jolla was considered “the little engine that could,” since Riquent is the only drug in the small company’s arsenal. Now that clinical trials have stopped, patients will have to look toward the next wave of possible treatment.

Today we'd like to take a moment to welcome all of those women and men who have been newly diagnosed, or know someone who has been newly diagnosed, with lupus.

Today we’re asking the question, what type of lupus do you have? And more importantly, did you know that there was more than one type?

Lupus takes on several forms and can affect any part of the body, but it most commonly attacks the skin, joints, the heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. So what are the various types?

They are:

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Drug Induced Lupus
• Discoid Lupus
• Neonatal Lupus

These are the most common forms, but there are other forms as well. See something missing? Let me know at lupus.guide@about.com.

If you’ve been newly diagnosed with lupus, or have lived with it for some time, you may have dozens of questions related to the disease. In an effort to collect as many of those questions as we can, provide some short answers, and then link to more in-depth information, we have launched this Frequently Asked Questions page. Here you will discover questions that have been asked, with a link to provided answers.

If you have questions that are not covered in this document, please e-mail me at lupus.guide@about.com. We hope to add to this page regularly, and welcome any and all questions you might have.