Neovacs, a French biotech, obtained positive Phase IIb results showing its lupus vaccine could be effective in treating this severe autoimmune disease.

Its lupus vaccine works by stimulating the patient’s immune system to produce antibodies against a protein called IFNα that regulates the immune system and is involved in the disease.

The study enrolled 185 patients around the globe with moderate to severe lupus. The vaccine, IFNα Kinoid, significantly reduced the amount of interferons in the blood — proteins that are produced in response to disease-causing microbes — 36 weeks into the study. Given the promising results, the company plans to move its vaccine into Phase III testing.

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