AstraZeneca Egypt announced on Monday the launch of “Saphnelo” (anifrolumab), a new treatment for moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), marking the company’s first foray into autoimmune disease therapies.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Cairo, attended by AstraZeneca executives alongside leading rheumatology and immunology experts.
The launch reinforces AstraZeneca’s commitment to patient-centered care and aligns with Egypt’s Health Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen the healthcare system and broaden access to advanced treatments.
“This marks our first step into autoimmune disease, introducing targeted biologic therapies for lupus patients who have long faced limited treatment options,” said Sherif Wagih, Medical Affairs Director at AstraZeneca Egypt.
Experts highlighted that lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 people globally, with women comprising about 90% of cases, predominantly between ages 15 and 44. Local data estimate a prevalence of 6.1 per 100,000 adults in Egypt.
Kamel Heshmat from Cairo University noted that over half of lupus patients develop organ damage within ten years of diagnosis, with mortality risk twice that of the general population. Ghada Elmirdanly, Consultant of Internal Medicine, Immunology, and Rheumatology at Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, emphasized lupus’s significant social and psychological impact—particularly on women of childbearing age—who face increased risks of hypertension, premature birth, and miscarriage.
AstraZeneca has trained over 650 doctors on modern lupus care, supported the establishment of five dedicated lupus clinics in public hospitals, and organized four awareness campaigns reaching 7 million people. The company says Saphnelo offers renewed hope for lupus patients and marks a milestone in advancing healthcare standards across Egypt and the wider region.
