IL6 and systemic lupus erythematosus: In addition to conventional immunosuppressive therapies, several new strategies have been developed to target specific activation pathways relevant to SLE pathogenesis,[1] such as rituximab (B-cell depleting therapy), epratuzumab (B-cell modulating therapy), belimumab (inhibition of B-cell survival), abatacept and toralizumab (inhibition of T-cell function), tocilizumab (IL-6 inhibition), and sifalimumab and rontalizumab (type I interferon inhibitors).[2,3,4] Although these drugs have led to a markedly improved outcome in SLE, disease control remains unsatisfactory in a subset of patients.