Table of Contents
- What is GS-5718-03?
- What condition does GS-5718-03 treat?
- How is GS-5718-03 being studied?
- Who can participate in the study?
- What are the goals of the study?
- How is GS-5718-03 given?
- What are the potential benefits and risks?
What is GS-5718-03?
GS-5718-03 is a new medication being developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc. It is currently being studied as a potential treatment for a skin condition called Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE)[1]. GS-5718-03 is considered a “small molecule” drug, which means it is a low molecular weight compound that can easily enter cells to perform its function[1].
What condition does GS-5718-03 treat?
GS-5718-03 is being developed to treat Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE). CLE is a type of lupus that primarily affects the skin. It causes rashes and lesions on various parts of the body, particularly in sun-exposed areas. Some patients with CLE may also have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), which is a more widespread form of lupus that can affect multiple organs in the body[1].
How is GS-5718-03 being studied?
GS-5718-03 is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial. This trial is a Phase 2a Proof-of-Concept study, which means it’s an early stage of testing to see if the drug shows promise in treating CLE. The study is:
- Randomized: Participants are randomly assigned to either receive GS-5718-03 or a placebo (a substance that looks like the drug but has no active ingredients).
- Blinded: Neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the actual drug and who is receiving the placebo. This helps prevent bias in the results.
- Placebo-controlled: The effects of GS-5718-03 will be compared to those of a placebo to determine if the drug is truly effective[1].
Who can participate in the study?
The study has specific criteria for who can participate. Some key inclusion criteria are:
- Patients who have been diagnosed with CLE, confirmed by a skin biopsy, or who meet the criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)[1].
- Patients with active CLE symptoms at the time of screening and on the first day of the study.
- Patients who have a certain level of disease activity, as measured by specific scoring systems (CLASI-A and SLEDAI-2K)[1].
- Patients who have not responded well to, or cannot tolerate, standard treatments for CLE, such as topical corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids, or other medications like hydroxychloroquine or methotrexate[1].
There are also certain conditions that would prevent someone from participating in the study, such as having only certain types of CLE (like chilblains lupus), having highly active SLE affecting other organs, or having other skin conditions that could interfere with assessing the lupus skin lesions[1].
What are the goals of the study?
The main goals of this study are:
- To see if GS-5718-03 is effective in reducing skin disease activity in people with CLE. This will be measured by looking at the change in a score called the CLASI-A, which assesses the severity of CLE symptoms[1].
- To evaluate how safe GS-5718-03 is and how well patients tolerate it. This includes monitoring for any side effects or adverse reactions[1].
- To understand how the drug moves through and is processed by the body (this is called pharmacokinetics or PK)[1].
How is GS-5718-03 given?
GS-5718-03 is given as a film-coated tablet that is taken by mouth (orally). The tablets contain 15 mg of the active ingredient. The maximum daily dose in the study is 30 mg, which likely means participants take two tablets per day. The treatment period in the study lasts for 12 weeks[1].
What are the potential benefits and risks?
As this is an early-stage study, the full benefits and risks of GS-5718-03 are not yet known. However, the potential benefits could include improvement in CLE symptoms, particularly the skin rashes and lesions associated with the condition.
The study will carefully monitor for any side effects or adverse reactions. Some general risks that are often associated with participating in clinical trials include:
- The treatment may not be effective for everyone.
- There may be unexpected side effects.
- Participating in the study may require more time and attention than standard treatment, including trips to the study site, more treatments, hospital stays or complex dosage requirements[1].
It’s important to note that all clinical trials are closely monitored for patient safety, and participants are free to leave the study at any time if they experience uncomfortable side effects or feel the treatment is not working for them.



