Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in children with moderate-to-severe asthma: a meta-analysis

The new biologic drugs: Which children with asthma should get what?

Novel biologics (targeted antibody therapies) have revolutionized the management of severe childhood asthma. However, it is important that the right biologic is selected for the right patient, and understanding the evidence base for each biologic is crucial. Currently, four biologics (all monoclonal antibodies) are licensed in the UK for the treatment of children with severe asthma - omalizumab (Xolair), mepolizumab (Nucala), and dupilumab (Dupixent) in children aged 6 years and over; and tezepelumab (Tezspire), only in children aged 12 years and over. Tezepelumab is the only licensed biological that may be beneficial in severe asthma without evidence of Type 2 inflammation. All have a good safety profile but varying degrees of clinical efficacy in children, with wide variation in treatment responsiveness between individual patients. When selecting biologics for severe asthma, it is essential to remember the limitations of the current pediatric evidence. At present, there are no results from randomized, head-to-head trials of biologics in severe asthma. TREAT is an ongoing trial comparing omalizumab to mepolizumab and will be one of the first to provide such evidence. We must be especially aware of the dangers of extrapolating data from adults to children, because the pathophysiology and role of biomarkers may differ significantly from adult asthma. Given the current level of knowledge, even after treatment has been initiated, children should be regularly reviewed to determine the efficacy of treatment, side-effect profile and consideration of when treatment with the biologic should be discontinued.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of monoclonal antibodies targeting TSLP and IgE in asthma management

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the utilization of biologic therapies for the management of asthma. Both TSLP and IgE are important immune molecules in the development of asthma, and they are involved in the occurrence and regulation of inflammatory response.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted to gather information on anti-TSLP antibody and anti-IgE antibody.

RESULTS

This investigation elucidates the distinct mechanistic roles of Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) and Immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the pathogenesis of asthma, with a particular emphasis on delineating the therapeutic mechanisms and pharmacological properties of monoclonal antibodies targeting IgE and TSLP. Through a meticulous examination of clinical trials involving paradigmatic agents such as omalizumab and tezepelumab, we offer valuable insights into the potential treatment modalities for diseases with shared immunopathogenic pathways involving IgE and TSLP.

CONCLUSION

The overarching objective of this comprehensive study is to delve into the latest advancements in asthma therapeutics and to provide guidance for future investigations in this domain.

Early Assessment of Efficacy and Safety of Biologics in Pediatric Allergic Diseases: Preliminary Results from a Prospective Real-World Study

BACKGROUND

Despite the increasing interest in biologics for the management of allergic diseases, sparse real-world data are still available in the pediatric population. This study aimed to evaluate the early real-life efficacy and safety of omalizumab for patients with moderate-to-severe asthma and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and Dupilumab for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD).

METHODS

A prospective study enrolling children aged 6-18 years was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of biologic drugs at 16 weeks of treatment (T1). The effectiveness was measured using validated questionnaires (ACQ-5 for asthma, UAS7 for CSU, and EASI score for AD). Secondary outcome measures included reductions in inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dosages, asthma-related hospitalizations/exacerbations, and quality of life (QoL) indicators (iNRS, sNRS, DLQI/cDLQI) for CSU and AD. Safety was expressed according to the descriptions of adverse events provided by EMA and FDA.

RESULTS

The study cohort consisted of eighteen children (mean age 12.9 ± 3.4 years). The omalizumab treatment significantly reduced ACQ-5 and UAS7 scores (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). In patients with asthma, decreased ICS dosage and hospitalization/exacerbation rates were observed. QoL parameters significantly improved in CSU and AD patients. No severe adverse events were reported for either treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings validate omalizumab and dupilumab as effective and safe therapeutic options for managing moderate-to-severe allergic diseases in children and adolescents.

Future of biologics in pediatric asthma: Optimizing response, early introduction, and equitable access to treatment

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the current evidence, its limitations, and future research directions for the use of biologics in pediatric asthma, with a particular focus on the potential use of biologics to prevent pediatric asthma and equity issues in access to biologic treatment and research participation.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed articles about the use of biologics in pediatric asthma were searched up to May 2023.

STUDY SELECTIONS

Recent (2019-2023) original research articles and reviews were prioritized.

RESULTS

Although there are now 5 U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved biologics for use in pediatric asthma, there are important knowledge gaps that ongoing research seeks to address, which include (1) the long-term efficacy and safety of using biologics in children, (2) the comparative efficacy of different biologics, (3) multi-omics-based classification of asthma endotypes and phenotypes in children to find potential new therapeutic targets and enable identification and validation of new biomarkers that may predict and help monitor response to treatment, and (4) whether starting biologics in early childhood can modify the natural history of asthma and potentially prevent asthma development.

SUMMARY

To promote equitable access to biologics and optimize asthma outcomes, future research should recruit patients across the full spectrum of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds. Large-scale national and international collaborations between asthma researchers and clinicians are also necessary to fully understand the role of biologics in pediatric asthma.

An evidence gap map of interventions for noncommunicable diseases and risk factors among children and adolescents

Substance misuse, obesity, mental health conditions, type 1 diabetes, cancers, and cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases together account for 41% of disability-adjusted life years linked to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among children and adolescents worldwide. However, the evidence on risk factors and interventions for this age group is scarce. Here we searched four databases to generate an evidence gap map of existing interventions and research gaps for these risk factors and NCDs. We mapped 159 reviews with 2,611 primary studies; most (96.2%) were conducted in high-income countries, and only 100 studies (3.8%) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The efficacy of therapeutic interventions on biomarkers and adverse events for NCDs appears to be well evidenced. Interventions for mental health conditions appear to be moderately evidenced, while interventions for obesity and substance misuse appear to be moderate to very low evidenced. Priority areas for future research include evaluating digital health platforms to support primary NCD prevention and management, and evaluating the impact of policy changes on the prevalence of obesity and substance misuse. Our findings highlight the wide disparity of evidence between high-income countries and LMICs. There is an urgent need for increased, targeted financing to address the research gaps in LMICs.

Developments in the Management of Severe Asthma in Children and Adolescents: Focus on Dupilumab and Tezepelumab

Severe asthma in children and adolescents exerts a substantial health, financial, and societal burden. Severe asthma is a heterogeneous condition with multiple clinical phenotypes and underlying inflammatory patterns that might be different in individual patients. Various add-on treatments have been developed to treat severe asthma, including monoclonal antibodies (biologics) targeting inflammatory mediators. Biologics that are currently approved to treat children (≥ 6 years of age) or adolescents (≥ 12 years of age) with severe asthma include: anti-immunoglobulin E (omalizumab), anti-interleukin (IL)-5 (mepolizumab), anti-IL5 receptor (benralizumab), anti-IL4/IL13 receptor (dupilumab), and antithymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) (tezepelumab). However, access to these targeted treatments varies across countries and relies on few and crude indicators. There is a need for better treatment stratification to guide which children might benefit from these treatments. In this narrative review we will assess the most recent developments in the treatment of severe pediatric asthma, as well as potential biomarkers to assess treatment efficacy for this patient population.

Severe Asthma and Biological Therapies: Now and the Future

Recognition of phenotypic variability in pediatric asthma allows for a more personalized therapeutic approach. Knowledge of the underlying pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms (endotypes) of corresponding biomarkers and new treatments enables this strategy to progress. Biologic therapies for children with severe asthma are becoming more relevant in this sense. The T2 phenotype is the most prevalent in childhood and adolescence, and non-T2 phenotypes are usually rare. This document aims to review the mechanism of action, efficacy, and potential predictive and monitoring biomarkers of biological drugs, focusing on the pediatric population. The drugs currently available are omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab, and 1ezepelumab, with some differences in administrative approval prescription criteria between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Previously, we described the characteristics of severe asthma in children and its diagnostic and therapeutic management.

Advances in the Relationship between Respiratory Viruses and Asthma

Several studies have reported that viral infection is closely associated with the onset, progression, and exacerbation of asthma. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role that viral infections have in the pathogenesis of asthma onset and exacerbations, as well as discuss interrelated protective and risk factors of asthma and current treatment options. Furthermore, we present current knowledge of the innate immunological pathways driving host defense, including changes in the epithelial barrier. In addition, we highlight the importance of the genetics and epigenetics of asthma and virus susceptibility. Moreover, the involvement of virus etiology from bronchiolitis and childhood wheezing to asthma is described. The characterization and mechanisms of action of the respiratory viruses most frequently related to asthma are mentioned.

Long-Term Safety of Omalizumab in Children with Asthma and/or Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A 4-Year Prospective Study in Real Life

Background: Insufficient data are available on the long-term "real-life" safety profile of omalizumab in children. This study evaluated the long-term safety of omalizumab in a pediatric cohort with severe asthma or chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Methods: A monocentric, prospective study evaluated the long-term safety of omalizumab in patients aged 6-18 years. Each patient completed the standardized MedDRA questionnaire to identify adverse events (AEs). Results: In total, 23 patients, median age 15 (14-18) years, affected by severe asthma (60.8%) or CSU (39.2%), treated with omalizumab for 2 (1-4) years were enrolled. The most common AEs belong to the system organ class (SOC) of general disorders and administration-site conditions (37.17%). Skin and subcutaneous tissue problems represent the second most frequently reported AEs (24.35%). Central nervous system and musculoskeletal disorders were quite frequent (15.38% and 8.97%, respectively). Other adverse events were tachycardia (5.12%), vertigo and abdominal pain (2.60% and 3.86%, respectively), and dry eye (1.3%). Only one patient reported herpes virus infection during treatment (1.3%). No cases of anaphylaxis, hemopathies, uronephropathies, respiratory, psychiatric, hepatobiliary, or oncological pathologies were reported. Conclusions: Long-term "real-life" treatment with omalizumab in children appears well tolerated. Its safety and efficacy profile makes omalizumab an excellent alternative in severe asthma and CSU in children.

Advances in the pathogenesis and personalised treatment of paediatric asthma

The diversity of pathology of severe paediatric asthma demonstrates that the one-size-fits-all approach characterising many guidelines is inappropriate. The term "asthma" is best used to describe a clinical syndrome of wheeze, chest tightness, breathlessness, and sometimes cough, making no assumptions about underlying pathology. Before personalising treatment, it is essential to make the diagnosis correctly and optimise basic management. Clinicians must determine exactly what type of asthma each child has. We are moving from describing symptom patterns in preschool wheeze to describing multiple underlying phenotypes with implications for targeting treatment. Many new treatment options are available for school age asthma, including biological medicines targeting type 2 inflammation, but a paucity of options are available for non-type 2 disease. The traditional reliever treatment, shortacting β2 agonists, is being replaced by combination inhalers containing inhaled corticosteroids and fast, longacting β2 agonists to treat the underlying inflammation in even mild asthma and reduce the risk of asthma attacks. However, much decision making is still based on adult data extrapolated to children. Better inclusion of children in future research studies is essential, if children are to benefit from these new advances in asthma treatment.

Severe pediatric asthma therapy: Omalizumab-A systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy and safety profile

Background

Omalizumab is the first biological therapy used to treat moderate-to-severe asthma and certainly the one with the highest number of publications.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to examine two critical outcomes of omalizumab therapy, asthma exacerbation rate, the reduction of the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), and the improvement of the lung function as a secondary outcome using the following keywords in the MEDLINE database: "anti-IgE, severe asthma, children, and randomized controlled trial." We specifically selected papers that included moderate-to-severe asthma patients and collected data on children and adolescents.

Results

Four RCT studies (total number of patients = 1,239) were included in the analysis. The reported data on exacerbations showed an overall improvement in the exacerbation rate with a decreased use of inhaled steroids and some other minimal clinically important difference (MCID).

Conclusions

Our systematic review confirms the known findings that omalizumab therapy decreases asthma exacerbation rate and reduces background therapy inhaled steroid dose. Therefore, add-on therapy with omalizumab shows a good efficacy and safety profile, thus proving to be a useful additional therapeutic option.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42023396785.

Biologic drugs in treating allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in patients with cystic fibrosis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Aspergillus fumigatus is a common saprophytic fungus causing allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The recommended first-line treatment for ABPA is oral steroids, followed by antifungal therapy. However, both treatments are not free from adverse effects; thus, efforts are being made to identify new drugs showing the same effectiveness but with fewer or no side-effects. Therein, biologic drugs have been significantly implemented in clinical practice in treating ABPA in patients with CF.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the available literature, providing evidence for the administration of biologic drugs as a new potential treatment of ABPA in both the paediatric and adult populations with CF.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature published between January 2007 and July 2021 was performed, using a protocol registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42021270932).

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies focusing on the use of biologics in treating ABPA in CF patients was included. We highlighted a paucity of data providing evidence for biologic drug use in ABPA.

CONCLUSION

Scientific evidence is insufficient to support firm conclusions and randomised clinical trials are urgently required to investigate the efficacy and safety of biologics for ABPA in CF patients.

Cost-utility of omalizumab for the treatment of uncontrolled moderate-to-severe persistent pediatric allergic asthma in a middle-income country

OBJECTIVES

Although several randomized clinical trials performed in children 6 years and older with Omalizumab as add-on therapy have reported improvements in diverse clinical outcomes, the evidence regarding its cost effectiveness is not sufficient, especially in less-affluent countries, where the clinical and economic burden of the disease is the greatest. The aim of the present study was to perform a cost-utility analysis of adding omalizumab to standard treatment for treating pediatric patients with uncontrolled severe allergic asthma in Colombia, a middle-income country (MIC).

METHODS

A Markov-type model was developed to estimate costs and health outcomes of a simulated cohort of pediatric patients with persistent asthma treated over a 5-year period. The effectiveness data and transition probabilities were obtained from various sources, including systematic reviews with meta-analysis. Cost data were obtained from official databases provided by the Colombian Ministry of Health. The study was carried out from the perspective of the national healthcare system in Colombia. The main outcome was the variable ''quality-adjusted life-years'' (QALYs).

RESULTS

For the base-case analysis, the cost-utility analysis showed that compared with the standard treatment strategy, the omalizumab strategy involved higher costs (US$72,142.3 vs. $20,243.4 average cost per patient) and greater gain in QALYs (0.8718 vs. 0.8222 QALYs on average per patient). The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) of omalizumab compared with standard treatment was US$82,748.1 per QALY CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that in Colombia, an MIC, compared with standard treatment, omalizumab is not a cost-effective strategy for treating pediatric patients with uncontrolled severe allergic asthma.

Are we overcoming our inability to have pediatric patients properly use inhaled corticosteroids by inappropriately escalating their therapy?

OBJECTIVE

To perform a narrative review to describe and discuss potential methods and strategies for effectively assessing and dealing with poor adherence and/or misuse of inhalers in difficult-to-treat pediatric asthmatic patients.

DATA SOURCES

Articles available in electronic databases, published from inception to April 2021.

STUDY SELECTIONS

Relevant articles in the literature that discuss and analyze potential methods and strategies for effectively assessing and dealing with poor adherence and/or misuse of inhalers in difficult-to-treat pediatric asthmatic patients.

RESULTS

Validated self-reported questionnaires, weighing inhaler canisters, and pharmacy records might be the most suitable methods for assessing adherence to inhaled controller therapy in clinical practice. Additionally, validated instruments could be used as an objective measurement of the adequacy of inhaler technique. Finally, empathy and a true and strong physician-parent/patient partnership have a more powerful influence on adherence than almost any other factor, and they are probably the most cost-effective methods not only for detecting poor adherence to controller therapy but also for dealing with and improving it.

CONCLUSIONS

Failure to detect or effectively handle nonadherence and/or inhaler misuse in a patient with uncontrolled asthma can mislead clinicians into thinking that the patient is nonresponsive to the original less-intensive therapy, resulting in unneeded dosage increases and/or escalation of controller therapy to more costly medications, in some cases reaching the level of biologic therapy.

Drugs that act on the respiratory tract

No published data from this past year provide new insight on the safety and tolerability of corticosteroids, β2-adrenoreceptor agonists, or phosphodiesterase inhibitors as they pertain to respiratory diseases. While systemic corticosteroids have become a valuable therapeutic agent in treating Covid-19 pneumonia, there have been no new or unexpected adverse events reported within this context. Reports evaluating the psychiatric and vascular side effect profile of the leukotriene modifier, montelukast, are described below. For inhaled anticholinergic drugs, meta-analyses describe the cardiovascular safety of these agents, as well as the safety of tiotropium in pediatric patients. A case of mydriasis associated with ipratropium therapy is described. In addition, the safety of umeclidinium as part of a triple-drug inhaler was evaluated in a large randomized clinical trial. For the antifibrotic drugs nintedanib and pirfenidone, there are a number of reports describing the safety of these drugs in specific populations, and there are a number of case reports describing unique side effects. Lastly, there are new reports describing the safety of monoclonal antibody therapy for moderate to severe asthma, as well as a few case reports describing rare adverse events associated with benralizumab, dupilumab, mepolizumab, omalizumab, and reslizumab.