Severe Asthma Remissions Induced by Biologics Targeting IL5/IL5r: Results from a Multicenter Real-Life Study

Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 27;24(3):2455. doi: 10.3390/ijms24032455.

Abstract

Add-on biological therapy has proven to be effective in many patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. In this observational multicenter retrospective study, we report the results obtained with mepolizumab and benralizumab in severe asthmatics treated for 12 months in a real-life setting. In these patients, peripheral eosinophil levels, pulmonary function trends, exacerbation rates, systemic corticosteroid use, and symptom control were evaluated during the observation period, to understand which patients met all the criteria in order to be considered in disease remission. The percentage of remittent patients was 30.12% in the mepolizumab-treated subgroup, while in the benralizumab-treated subgroup, patients in complete disease remission were 40%, after 12 months. The results of this study confirm the efficacy of anti-IL-5 biologic drugs in the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma in a real-life setting.

Keywords: OCS-dependent asthma; airway inflammation; anti-IL 5; asthma remission; benralizumab; mepolizumab; severe asthma.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Asthma*
  • Biological Products* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-5
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-5 / metabolism
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Interleukin-5
  • Receptors, Interleukin-5

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.