Exagen collaborates with GSK for lupus treatment

Exagen Diagnostics, Inc. has announced a first-of-its kind collaboration with GSK to raise awareness of its laboratory tests, which facilitate early diagnosis and management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, a complex, incurable autoimmune disease.

Diagnosing autoimmune diseases, especially SLE, is difficult because signs and symptoms vary considerably from patient to patient. Misdiagnosis is also high because symptoms can mimic many other illnesses. Currently, there is no single test to diagnose SLE and rheumatologists and other healthcare professionals rely on a variety of indicators, including the patient’s presentation, medical history and results of laboratory tests to make an accurate SLE diagnosis.

The collaboration is intended to raise awareness of the importance of a timely diagnosis of SLE, as well as options for monitoring disease activity in patients already diagnosed with active SLE. Both Exagen and GSK share a common goal to help SLE patients shorten the time to their diagnosis, which is nearly six years on average, and to facilitate improved patient health outcomes.

GSK will raise awareness of Exagen’s AVISE diagnostic and monitoring tests, which have been shown to help diagnose and monitor SLE, to a select group of healthcare professionals.