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Hardtstock F, Krieger J, Wilke T, Lukas M, Ultsch B, Welte R, Quinzler R, Maywald U, Timmermann H. Epidemiology, Treatment and Health Care Resource Use of Patients with severe Asthma in Germany – a retrospective Claims Data Analysis. J Asthma 2022; 60:1280-1289. [PMID: 36373984 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2022.2144350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma causes various clinical symptoms, including unpredictable severe exacerbations, and even though most patients can achieve a reasonable disease control due to adequate treatment, some patients do not. This study seeks to describe healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and treatment of asthma and severe asthma patients in Germany. METHOD A retrospective claims data analysis has been conducted on adult asthma patients and a subset of patients with severe asthma, identified during July 2017 - June 2018. A proxy was used to identify severe asthma patients based on therapy options recommended within the German treatment guideline for treating these patients. These include (i) biologics, (ii) medium/high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in conjunction with LABA/montelukast and antibiotics/oral corticosteroids (OCS), and (iii) long-term OCS therapy. HCRU and treatment of patients were observed during a 1-year follow-up period (July 2018 - June 2019). RESULTS The study included 388 932 adult asthma patients (prevalence: 7.90%), with 2.51%-12.88% affected by severe asthma (depending on the definition). 22.60% of all asthma patients experienced hospitalizations (severe asthma: 36.11%). Furthermore, 13.59% received OCS (severe asthma: 39.91%), but only 0.18% (severe asthma: 1.25%) received biologics. Only 23.95% (severe asthma: 41.17%) visited a pulmonologist. CONCLUSIONS A considerable proportion of severe asthma patients receive long-term OCS therapy. However, less than 50% have seen a pulmonologist who would typically seek a change in treatment to avoid the long-term consequences of OCS. To optimize the treatment of severe asthma in Germany, better referral of these patients to specialists is needed and considering potential treatment alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marco Lukas
- GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG, München, Germany
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2
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Lim GN, Allen JC, Tiew PY, Chen W, Koh MS. Healthcare utilisation and health-related quality of life of severe asthma patients in Singapore. J Asthma 2022; 60:969-980. [PMID: 35972821 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2022.2114086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundNotwithstanding unequivocal consensus on the disproportionate effect of severe asthma (SA) on asthma morbidity, healthcare utilisation, quality of life, work impairment and socioeconomic burden, the burden of SA patients in Singapore has not been appraised.ObjectivesTo determine the burden of disease and extent of quality of life impairment in SA patients in Singapore.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis of SA patients seen in Singapore General Hospital (2020-2021) to investigate emergency healthcare utilization, oral corticosteroid (OCS) burden and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with primary endpoint EuroQoL-5 Dimension three-level (EQ-5D-3L) scores. The empirical measurement properties of the EQ-5D utility index in SA were comprehensively assessed through multivariate regression analyses.ResultsA total of 336 SA patients were recruited, 51.2% of SA patients had at least one acute healthcare resource utilization during the previous year, with 25.6% of patients having an emergency healthcare visit to the hospital. Overall mean (SD) EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-3L utility scores in SA patients were 6.22 (1.51) and 0.77 (0.30), respectively. EQ-5D utility scores were 0.14 lower in uncontrolled vs controlled asthma and 0.09 lower in the presence of severe exacerbation, whereas barely changed by maintenance OCS dose and airflow limitation.ConclusionSA patients were found to have high disease burden, high healthcare resource utilization and OCS use, low biologics usage, poor HRQoL and utility in comparison with other chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pei Yee Tiew
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Wenjia Chen
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mariko Siyue Koh
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
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3
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Parnes JR, Molfino NA, Colice G, Martin U, Corren J, Menzies-Gow A. Targeting TSLP in Asthma. J Asthma Allergy 2022; 15:749-765. [PMID: 35685846 PMCID: PMC9172920 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s275039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial cell-derived cytokine implicated in the initiation and persistence of inflammatory pathways in asthma. Released in response to a range of epithelial insults (eg, allergens, viruses, bacteria, pollutants, and smoke), TSLP initiates multiple downstream innate and adaptive immune responses involved in asthma inflammation. Inhibition of TSLP is postulated to represent a novel approach to treating the diverse phenotypes and endotypes of asthma. Tezepelumab, the TSLP inhibitor farthest along in clinical development, is a human monoclonal antibody (IgG2λ) that binds specifically to TSLP, preventing interactions with its heterodimeric receptor. Results of recently published phase 2 and 3 studies, reviewed in this article, provide evidence of the safety and efficacy of tezepelumab that builds on initial findings. Tezepelumab is safe, well tolerated, and provides clinically meaningful improvements in asthma control, including reduced incidence of exacerbations and hospitalizations in patients with severe asthma. Clinical benefits were associated with reductions in levels of a broad spectrum of cytokines (eg, interleukin [IL]-5, IL-13) and baseline biomarkers (eg, blood eosinophils, immunoglobulin [Ig]E, fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO]) and were observed across a range of severe asthma phenotypes (ie, eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic). These data strengthen the notion that anti-TSLP elicits broad inhibitory effects on pathways that are key to asthma inflammation rather than on narrower inhibition of individual downstream factors. This review presents the rationale for targeting TSLP to treat asthma, as well as the clinical effects of TSLP blockade on asthma outcomes, biomarkers of disease activity, airway inflammation, lung physiology, and patient symptoms.
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Hardtstock F, Krieger J, Wilke T, Lukas M, Ultsch B, Welte R, Quinzler R, Maywald U, Timmermann H. Use of Biologic Therapies in the Treatment of Asthma - A Comparative Real World Data Analysis on Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs Before and After Therapy Initiation. J Asthma Allergy 2022; 15:407-418. [PMID: 35411151 PMCID: PMC8994596 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s354062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in Germany. While many patients achieve asthma control under standard therapies, some patients still experience exacerbations and persistent airway obstructions. Thus, further pharmacological treatment is needed, and biologics could fill this gap, as they have shown clinical benefit in patients with severe asthma. Therefore, this real-world study aimed to compare healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and associated costs before and after biologic therapy initiation. Methods A retrospective claims data analysis has been conducted on adult asthma patients who initiated a long-term biologic therapy between January 2015 and June 2018. Patients were therapy-naïve to biologics for at least 12 months. HCRU and cost incurred by patients during 12 months before and after therapy initiation were compared. Results Overall, 571 asthma patients initiated a biologic therapy during the observational period (316 omalizumab, 232 mepolizumab, 16 benralizumab, and 7 reslizumab). Patients had a mean age of 54.86 (62.70% female), and the majority (93.70%) received at least one follow-up prescription of their index-biologic agent within one year. During baseline, patients received on average 2.75 OCS prescriptions compared to 2.17 during follow-up. Most patients received less or the same amount of OCS after therapy initiation. Moreover, hospitalizations and asthma-related sick leave days decreased significantly. The average total costs per patient were €6618.90 during baseline and €22,832.33 during follow-up. Biologics mainly drove the increase; however, hospitalization costs were reduced significantly (€2443.37 vs €1941.93; p<0.001). Conclusion Our study demonstrates an improved asthma control due to the initiation of a biologic therapy in terms of decreased hospitalization frequency, OCS consumption, and sick leave days. However, biologics are associated with high costs for healthcare providers during the first year after initiation. Therefore, short- and long-term clinical benefits and financial burden must be considered in the overall context of healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marco Lukas
- GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG, München, Germany
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5
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Caminati M, Vaia R, Furci F, Guarnieri G, Senna G. Uncontrolled Asthma: Unmet Needs in the Management of Patients. J Asthma Allergy 2021; 14:457-466. [PMID: 33976555 PMCID: PMC8104981 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s260604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent scientific research has provided clinicians with the tools for substantially upgrading the standard of care in the field of bronchial asthma. Nevertheless, satisfactory asthma control still remains an unmet need worldwide. Identifying the major determinants of poor control in different asthma severity levels represents the first step towards the improvement of the overall patients' management. The present review aims to provide an overview of the main unmet needs in asthma control and of the potential tools for overcoming the issue. Implementing a personalized medicine approach is essential, not only in terms of pharmacological treatments, biologic drugs or sophisticated biomarkers. In fact, exploring the complex profile of each patient, from his inflammation phenotype to his preferences and expectations, may help in filling the gap between the big potential of currently available treatments and the overall unsatisfactory asthma control. Telemedicine and e-health technologies may provide a strategy to both optimize disease assessment on a regular basis and enhance patients' empowerment in managing their asthma. Increasing patients' awareness as well as the physicians' knowledge about asthma phenotypes and treatment options besides corticosteroid probably represent the key and more difficult goals of all the players involved in asthma management at every level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Caminati
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rachele Vaia
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Fabiana Furci
- Allergy Unit and Asthma Center, University of Verona and Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Gabriella Guarnieri
- Respiratory Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Cardiological, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Gianenrico Senna
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Allergy Unit and Asthma Center, University of Verona and Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
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6
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Caminati M, Bagnasco D, Rosenwasser LJ, Vianello A, Senna G. Biologics for the Treatments of Allergic Conditions: Severe Asthma. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2020; 40:549-564. [PMID: 33012319 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2020.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
By selectively targeting specific steps of the immune inflammation cascade, biologic drugs for severe asthma have substantially contributed to increase the standard of care, to reduce drug-related morbidity. and most importantly to ameliorate patients' quality of life. Upcoming molecules are going to provide a chance for severe phenotypes besides Th2 high through the interaction with epithelial and innate immunity. Some practical aspects including optimal treatment duration, the possibility of a dose treatment modulation, the place and relevance of ICS in best responders are still under debate. Long-term safety, especially when interacting with innate immunity needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Caminati
- Department of Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Section, University of Verona and Verona University Hospital, Piazzale Scuro 10, Verona 37134, Italy.
| | - Diego Bagnasco
- Allergy and Respiratory Diseases, IRCCS Policlinico San Martino, University of Genoa, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, Genoa 16132, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Vianello
- Respiratory Pathophysiology Division, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze CardioToraco Vascolari e Sanità Pubblica, Via Nicolo` Giustiniani, 2, Padua 35128, Italy
| | - Gianenrico Senna
- Department of Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology School, University of Verona & Asthma Center and Allergy Unit, Verona University Hospital, Piazzale Scuro 10, Verona 37134, Italy
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Feddema JJ, Claassen E. Prevalence of viral respiratory infections amongst asthmatics: Results of a meta-regression analysis. Respir Med 2020; 173:106020. [PMID: 33190740 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2020.106020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Viral respiratory infections (VRI) can act as triggers for acute asthma exacerbations and contribute significantly to asthma-related healthcare costs. Knowing the patterns of viruses amongst asthmatics can be useful in treating and preventing these exacerbations and help decrease the burden they impose on patients and healthcare systems. We aimed to quantify the viral prevalence in asthmatics presenting with exacerbations and identify influencing factors. A meta-analysis with a systematic search was conducted. Random-effect analysis was performed to quantify prevalence of viruses. A meta-regression was conducted to explain sources of heterogeneity and identify confounding factors. A VRI was detected in 52%-65% of the cases, and the detection rate was higher in children compared to adults. Rhinovirus was most often detected [51-71%], followed by respiratory syncytial virus [8-18%], influenza virus [7-15%], human parainfluenza virus [4-11%] and metapneumovirus virus [3-9%]. Meta-regression showed that the variables age and hemisphere contributed to the heterogeneity observed and were significantly associated with the detection of viruses in asthmatics. The climate variable reached significance for RSV and indicated a higher detection rate of viruses in asthmatics living in temperate compared to tropical regions. Besides age, geographic location and related variables significantly influence to what extent respiratory viruses are detected amongst asthmatics with exacerbations. Our results indicate that health authorities should adopt region- and population specific prevention and treatment strategies. Prevention and detection of viral respiratory infections in asthmatics could reduce asthma related disease burden and decrease antibiotic misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Feddema
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Athena Institute, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - E Claassen
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Athena Institute, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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8
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Wang E, Wechsler ME, Tran TN, Heaney LG, Jones RC, Menzies-Gow AN, Busby J, Jackson DJ, Pfeffer PE, Rhee CK, Cho YS, Canonica GW, Heffler E, Gibson PG, Hew M, Peters M, Harvey ES, Alacqua M, Zangrilli J, Bulathsinhala L, Carter VA, Chaudhry I, Eleangovan N, Hosseini N, Murray RB, Price DB. Characterization of Severe Asthma Worldwide: Data From the International Severe Asthma Registry. Chest 2019; 157:790-804. [PMID: 31785254 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2019.10.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical characteristics of the international population with severe asthma are unknown. Intercountry comparisons are hindered by variable data collection within regional and national severe asthma registries. We aimed to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients treated in severe asthma services in the United States, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. METHODS The International Severe Asthma Registry retrospectively and prospectively collected data in patients with severe asthma (≥ 18 years old), receiving Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Step 5 treatment or with severe asthma remaining uncontrolled at GINA Step 4. Baseline demographic and clinical data were collected from the United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, Italy, and the Severe Asthma Web-based Database registry (including Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand) from December 2014 to December 2017. RESULTS We included 4,990 patients. Mean (SD) age was 55.0 (15.9) years, and mean (SD) age at asthma onset was 30.7 (17.7) years. Patients were predominantly female (59.3%) and white (72.6%), had never smoked (60.5%), and were overweight or obese (70.4%); 34.9% were at GINA Step 5; and 57.2% had poorly controlled disease. A total of 51.1% of patients were receiving regular intermittent oral corticosteroids, and 25.4% were receiving biologics (72.6% for those at GINA Step 5). Mean (SD) exacerbation rate was 1.7 (2.7) per year. Intercountry variation was observed in clinical characteristics, prescribed treatments, and biomarker profiles. CONCLUSIONS Using a common data set and definitions, this study describes severe asthma characteristics of a large patient cohort included in multiple severe asthma registries and identifies country differences. Whether these are related to underlying epidemiological factors, environmental factors, phenotypes, asthma management systems, treatment access, and/or cultural factors requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Wang
- Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, and Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO
| | - Michael E Wechsler
- NJH Cohen Family Asthma Institute, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | | | - Liam G Heaney
- UK Severe Asthma Network and National Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Rupert C Jones
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew N Menzies-Gow
- UK Severe Asthma Network and National Registry, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Busby
- UK Severe Asthma Network and National Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - David J Jackson
- UK Severe Asthma Network and National Registry, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust and Division of Asthma, Allergy & Lung Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul E Pfeffer
- UK Severe Asthma Network, Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chin Kook Rhee
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
| | - You Sook Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - G Walter Canonica
- Personalized Medicine Asthma & Allergy Clinic, Humanitas University & Research Hospital, Milan, Italy and SANI-Severe Asthma Network Italy, Italy
| | - Enrico Heffler
- Personalized Medicine Asthma & Allergy Clinic, Humanitas University & Research Hospital, Milan, Italy and SANI-Severe Asthma Network Italy, Italy
| | - Peter G Gibson
- Australian Severe Asthma Network, Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Mark Hew
- Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology Service, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthew Peters
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Erin S Harvey
- Australian Severe Asthma Network, Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David B Price
- Optimum Patient Care Global Ltd, Cambridge, England; Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Republic of Singapore; Centre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
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Caminati M, Polk B, Rosenwasser LJ. What have recent advances in therapy taught us about severe asthma disease mechanisms? Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2019; 15:1145-1153. [PMID: 31549894 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2020.1672536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Severe asthma still represents a worldwide challenge. The need for further treatment options has stimulated basic and pharmacological research to focus on the immune and inflammatory background of asthma. The new biologic drugs express the considerable advances in the field and besides providing a revolutionary treatment option for severe asthma, contribute themselves to better understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms they address, paving the way to new potential targets.Areas covered: A selective search on PubMed and Medline was performed, including the evidence on immunology of severe asthma published up to May 2019 by focusing on the immunological effects of biologic drugs underlying their clinical outcomes.Expert opinion: The recent pharmacological research in the field of biologics has represented an exceptional opportunity for exploring severe asthma mechanisms. However, some points deserve to be addressed by further investigation. Although in the absence of safety warnings so far, interfering with the immune system may raise some safety concerns, especially in the long-term use. Particularly when interacting with epithelial and innate immunity the selection of candidates probably deserves special caution. Also, whether biologics exert a true disease-modifying effect is not completely clear. As a direct practical implication, the optimal treatment duration is still controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Caminati
- Asthma Center and Allergy Unit, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Brooke Polk
- Wash U School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
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10
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Caminati M, Bagnasco D, Vaia R, Senna G. New horizons for the treatment of severe, eosinophilic asthma: benralizumab, a novel precision biologic. Biologics 2019; 13:89-95. [PMID: 31190733 PMCID: PMC6535408 DOI: 10.2147/btt.s157183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In the last decades, the increasing evidence concerning inflammation mechanisms underlying severe eosinophilic asthma has highlighted new potential therapeutic targets and has paved the way to new selective biologic drugs. Understanding the mechanism of action and the clinical outcomes of a particular drug along with the clinical and biological characteristics of the patient population for which that drug was intended may ensure appropriate selection of patients that will respond to that drug. Under this perspective, the present review will focus on the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence of benralizumab as a treatment option for severe eosinophilic asthma, in order to provide a concise overview and a reference for clinical practice. Benralizumab is a fully humanized afucosylated IgG1κ mAb that binds to an epitope on IL-5 Rα, and inhibits IL-5 signaling. Benralizumab also sustains antibody-directed cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of eosinophils and basophils and consequently depletes IL-5Rα-expressing cells. As a result, it is responsible for a substantial depletion of blood, tissue, and bone marrow eosinophilia. This unique mechanism of action may account for a more complete and rapid action profile. Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that benralizumab provides an optimal safety profile, and is able to significantly reduce asthma exacerbations, oral steroid intake, and to improve lung function. Some clinical predictors of enhanced clinical response to benralizumab have also been identified, including: a level of blood eosinophils ≥300 μL−1, oral steroids use, the presence of nasal polyposis, FVC <65% of predicted, and a history of three or more exacerbations per year at baseline. These results can be helpful in identifying the best responder patients to benralizumab. As a step forward, the definition of the responder profile for each of the available biological treatment options will potentially support even more the pathway to precision medicine and the critical matching of the right drug with the right patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Caminati
- Asthma Center and Allergy Unit, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.,Department of Medicine, School of Specialization in Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Diego Bagnasco
- Allergy & Respiratory Diseases, DIMI Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Rachele Vaia
- Department of Medicine, School of Specialization in Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gianenrico Senna
- Asthma Center and Allergy Unit, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
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Vianello A. Prevalence of severe asthma according to the drug regulatory agency perspective: An Italian experience. World Allergy Organ J 2019; 12:100032. [PMID: 31193146 PMCID: PMC6517682 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2019.100032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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