Onset of Effect, Changes in Airflow Obstruction and Lung Volume, and Health-Related Quality of Life Improvements with Benralizumab for Patients with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: Phase IIIb Randomized, Controlled Trial (SOLANA)

Objective

In the SOLANA trial, we sought to physiologically characterize benralizumab’s onset of effect and maintenance of that effect for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.

Methods

SOLANA (NCT02869438) was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, Phase IIIb study conducted at 49 centers in six countries (Chile, Germany, Hungary, the Philippines, South Korea, and the United States). Eligible patients with baseline blood eosinophil counts ≥300 cells/µL were randomized to subcutaneous benralizumab (30 mg) or placebo administered at Days 0, 28, and 56. The primary endpoint was the average change from baseline in prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (pre-BD FEV₁) during the Day 28‒Day 84 period for benralizumab vs placebo. Secondary endpoints included patient-reported outcomes (PROs). A subset of patients participated in a whole-body plethysmography substudy. Safety was also assessed.

Results

In total, 233 patients were randomized to benralizumab (n=118) or placebo (n=115). Improvement from baseline in pre-BD FEV₁ with benralizumab 30 mg was not statistically significant compared with placebo (least-squares mean change difference [95% confidence interval] 57 mL [−22 to 135]; p=0.16). Compared with placebo, benralizumab demonstrated early (Day 7) nonstatistically significant improvements in whole-body plethysmography assessments of hyperinflation and clinically meaningful improvements in PRO measures (Asthma Control Questionnaire 6 at Day 14 and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire at Day 28), which were maintained over the treatment period. Benralizumab’s safety profile was commensurate with previously reported studies.

Conclusion

The observed early changes in lung volume despite relatively small improvements in airflow obstruction suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of benralizumab may be manifested as deflation over time for patients with hyperinflation, who potentially have a greater degree of airway remodeling. This early effect could partially explain the rapid PRO improvements observed for certain patients.