Benlysta had a slow take-off grossing $59.2m in sales in the last three quarters of 2011, but it was approved in numerous countries by year's end. Estimated sales for Benlysta in 2012 are said to be about $230m with first annual profits likely by 2015. The surprisingly slow uptake of Benlysta allows for blisibimod to develop into a promising drug as it currently has more desirable features than that of Benlysta.

Blisibimod has a dosing regimen of one injection weekly to that of Benlysta which requires a series of dosing before the maintenance dose begins. Also, Benlysta has limitations on usage pertaining to specific patient populations and has not been studied in combination with other biologics. These attributes of blisibimod, including a different mechanism of action, will set it apart from Benlysta.