Stanford Study on treatment of
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with
DHEA

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jan. 9, 1996--

Genelabs Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNLB) announced today the
publication of the results of a clinical study conducted by Stanford
University of women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), treated
for three months with 200 mg/day of DHEA, fared better than
placebo-treated patients, in a clinical study published in December
issue of "Arthritis and Rheumatism," the official journal of the
American College of Rheumatology. 

Stanford University Medical Center investigators Ronald F. van
Vollenhoven, M.D., Ph.D., Edgar G. Engleman, M.D., and James L.
McGuire, M.D., reported results of their 3-month trial in 28 women
with mild to moderate lupus in whom DHEA or placebo was added to their
usual medical regimen. 

In each of four outcome measures, patient self-assessment, physician
assessment, a composite index of disease activity and prednisone dose,
mean value in women treated with DHEA improved while those on placebo
were stable or worsened. When placebo patients were subsequently given
DHEA for three months after the trial, their symptoms improved
similarly to those patients who received the drug during the blinded
phase of the trial. The only side-effect seen more commonly in
DHEA-treated patients was acne, which responded to topical agents. 

Senior author James L. McGuire, Professor of Medicine at Stanford
University commented, "Lupus patients depend heavily on steroids like
prednisone to control their disease. Prednisone, while life-saving, is
responsible for many of the serious complications lupus patients get,
including heart attacks, fatal infections and osteoporosis. Our study
shows that patients feel better on DHEA even when they reduce their
prednisone dose. Its safety profile appears excellent in our studies,
and I am pleased to be involved with the Phase III trials needed to
confirm these findings." 

McGuire added, "The only drugs approved for lupus are steroids and
hydoxychloroquin. Lupus patients have not had a new drug approved for
their disease in over twenty years." 

Genelabs' spokesman Kenneth J. Gorelick, M.D., Vice President of Drug
Development and Chief Medical Officer said, "The fact that patients
improved while prednisone dose was decreased is of major clinical
importance, and signals the potential value of DHEA to patients with
lupus, who are primarily women. This study was essential to the design
of our ongoing pivotal clinical trial, which will be completed in
1996. We expect that this and other trials conducted under our IND
will lead to an important advance in the treatment of lupus." 

Established in 1984, Genelabs Technologies, Inc. is an international
biopharmaceutical and diagnostic company focused on immunological and
viral disorders. The company operates facilities in Redwood City,
California; Geneva, Switzerland; Leuvan, Belgium; Taiwan, ROC; and
Singapore. 

CONTACT: 
     Genelabs Technologies, Inc. 
     Irene Chow-Ph.D./Kenneth Gorelick-M.D., 415/369-9500 
KEYWORD: 
     CALIFORNIA 
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: 
     MEDICINE PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 


lupus@piper.hamline.edu 
Last modified: 1996-07-30