XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. announced that it has filed a new patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect doses of hCDR1 lower than 0.5 mg weekly, in the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). The new patent application is based on clinical evidence that lower doses of hCDR1 may be as efficient, or in some instances more efficient, than the higher doses previously tested in the treatment of SLE. Lower doses of hCDR1 may improve clinical outcomes in SLE patients when used as a standalone treatment, or when used as a combination therapy in addition to standard of care. Improved outcomes may include the potential to control disease activity in patients who do or do not require steroids. For patients who do require steroids, an hCDR1 combination therapy may decrease the dosage of steroids required to control disease activity. XTL completed its Phase 2 clinical trial design for hCDR1 in the treatment of SLE earlier this year. The trial design includes a treatment arm dosing weekly at 0.5 mg hCDR1 and BILAG as the measure for the primary efficacy endpoint. Data from the prior Phase 2 study clearly showed a statistically significant effect of a 0.5 mg dose of hCDR1 on the BILAG index.