Lupus pain drug shows promise in early trial

NCT ID NCT03093402

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase 2 study tested whether JBT-101 (lenabasum) can reduce joint pain in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 109 adults with active arthritis and at least moderate pain took either the drug or a placebo for 84 days. The main goal was to see if pain scores improved more with JBT-101 than with placebo.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: JBT-101 (lenabasum)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new way to ease lupus joint pain without suppressing the immune system.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial (109 people) testing pain relief, not a cure. The drug may not prove better than placebo, and side effects are still being studied.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

lupus erythematosus musculoskeletal system disorder systemic lupus erythematosus

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LUPUS SLE SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center: Division of Rheumatology

The Bronx, New York, 10457, United States
Columbia University Medical Center: Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

New York, New York, 10032, United States
Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
Emory University: Division of Rheumatology

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research: Center for Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal Diseases

Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States
Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
MetroHealth Medical Center

Cleveland, Ohio, 44109, United States
New York University Langone Medical Center: Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

New York, New York, 10016, United States
Penn State MS Hershey Medical Center

Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States
Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, United States
UCLA Medical Center: Division of Rheumatology

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
University of California San Diego School of Medicine: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology

La Jolla, California, 92093, United States
University of California San Francisco School of Medicine: Lupus Clinic and Rheumatology Clinical Research Center

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States
University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15217, United States
Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.