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Anifrolumab is one of three anti-type-1 interferon agents currently under investigation as a potential treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Initial in vivo studies observed higher levels of serum interferon (IFN) in patients with autoimmune disease as opposed to those of healthy controls.[1] Further genetic analyses identified a consistent upregulation of IFN gene signatures in peripheral mononuclear cells of SLE patients.[2] This signature was inducible by IFN, repressed with glucocorticoids, and possibly correlated with disease severity.[3][4][5][6][7] Therefore, specific IFN gene signatures have been used in clinical trials as diagnostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers in SLE.[8][9]

Anifrolumab has gained traction as a promising drug for SLE, as demonstrated in the MUSE study (phase IIb), TULIP-1 (phase III), and TULIP-2 (phase III).[10][11][12][13][14] Though TULIP-1 did not meet its primary endpoint …