Riquent No Longer a Possibility

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.