NEJM Oct 22 2026 Ianalumab for the Treatment of Patients with Sjögren’s Disease

Two clinical studies, NEPTUNUS-1 and NEPTUNUS-2, evaluated the effectiveness of the antibody ianalumab as a potential medical intervention for Sjögren's disease, a complicated autoimmune condition lacking specialized treatments. Researchers divided hundreds of participants into groups to compare monthly or quarterly subcutaneous injections of the medication against a placebo over the course of a year. The primary objective measured changes in disease activity scores at week 48 using standardized rheumatology indexes. Findings revealed that monthly dosesachieved a statistically significant reduction in disease severity compared to inactive treatments, despite showing no meaningful differences in specific secondary symptom evaluations. Although participants receiving the drug experienced a higher rate of mild injection-site reactions, the frequency of severe health complications remained comparable to the placebo groups.