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Benfante A, Principe S, Battaglia S, Scichilone N. Are biological drugs effective and safe in older severe asthmatics? Expert Opin Drug Saf 2019; 18:369-380. [PMID: 30983432 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2019.1607838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The treatment of asthma in older ages follows the recommendations of international guidelines for the management of asthma in younger ages, although older age has always represented an exclusion criterion for eligibility to pharmacological trials. This poses a clinical challenge when deciding whether elderly severe asthmatics are candidates for biological drugs. AREAS COVERED The current article has a narrative structure to review the current literature on efficacy and safety of novel pharmacological drugs against immunoglobulins and interleukins that mediate and orchestrate the main inflammatory pathways in severe asthma, in order to explore whether older subjects (i.e. > 65 years of age) are included. EXPERT OPINION Asthma in older ages is not a rare entity, and loss of symptom control is common in most advanced ages. Current evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on the safety of biological drugs in elderly asthmatics is scarce and does not allow drawing definitive conclusions. An urgent call for studies specifically designed for elderly populations is needed, with the purpose to assess the efficacy and safety of target biological therapies in advanced ages. We envision the design of large multi-center clinical trials to decide whether and when geriatric population could benefit from biological therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alida Benfante
- a Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DIBIMIS) , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy
| | - Stefania Principe
- a Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DIBIMIS) , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy
| | - Salvatore Battaglia
- a Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DIBIMIS) , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy
| | - Nicola Scichilone
- a Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DIBIMIS) , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy
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MacDonald KM, Kavati A, Ortiz B, Alhossan A, Lee CS, Abraham I. Short- and long-term real-world effectiveness of omalizumab in severe allergic asthma: systematic review of 42 studies published 2008-2018. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2019; 15:553-569. [PMID: 30763137 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2019.1574571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Omalizumab is a recombinant monoclonal anti-IgE antibody approved in the US as add-on treatment in moderate-to-severe allergic asthma (in severe allergic asthma [SAA] in Europe). A 2016 review of 24 real-world effectiveness studies in SAA published between 2008-2015 concluded that omalizumab was associated with significant improvements in objective and subjective outcomes with benefits extending beyond 2 years. Several new real-world studies have been published since, bringing the total to 42 studies. Areas covered: This systematic review of 42 studies published since 2008 updates and extends the 2016 review on the real-word evidence on omalizumab in SAA. It offers greater granularity as to time windows within which outcomes are reported and includes studies extending well beyond 4 years post omalizumab initiation. Expert commentary: This review firmly establishes the short-term effectiveness of omalizumab in adolescent and adult patients with SAA at 1 year, and provides strong evidence of long-term effectiveness up to 4 years and emergent evidence of effectiveness beyond 4 years. In the aggregate, these 42 studies underscore the long-term effectiveness of omalizumab in terms of: reducing exacerbations and symptoms, achieving asthma control, improving lung function, enhancing quality of life, decreasing emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and promoting concomitant medication-sparing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abhishek Kavati
- b Health Economics & Outcomes Research , Novartis , East Hanover , NJ , USA
| | - Benjamin Ortiz
- c Clinical Development & Medical Affairs , Novartis , East Hanover , NJ , USA
| | | | - Christopher S Lee
- a Division of Research , Matrix45 , Tucson , AZ , USA.,e Boston College , Connell School of Nursing , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Ivo Abraham
- a Division of Research , Matrix45 , Tucson , AZ , USA.,f Center for Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomic Research , University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ , USA.,g Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy , University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ , USA.,h Department of Family and Community Medicine , College of Medicine - Tucson, University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ , USA
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