Real-life experience with biologic therapies in severe uncontrolled asthma

Abstract

Background: Patients with severe uncontrolled asthma have high morbidity and healthcare utilization as compared with their peers with well-controlled disease. The emergence of biologic therapies for the treatment of asthma has provided promising targeted treatment for these patients but real-life clinical data are still scarce.

Aims and objectives: To evaluate in a real-life setting the long-term therapeutic effects of omalizumab, mepolizumab, and benralizumab in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma.

Methods: In this retrospective real-life study, data from 40 patients with severe uncontrolled asthma were collected at baseline, and after 1 and 2 years of different biologic treatments.

Results: A total of 40 patients (age 60.5 ± 12.0) were enrolled: 13 patients on omalizumab, 11 on mepolizumab, 16 on benralizumab. Asthma control, as measured by the asthma control test (ACT), improved in all patients both at 1 and 2 years of treatment compared with baseline (15.0, IQR:13-17 vs 23, IQR:20-25 vs 24, IQR:22-25, p<0.001). Similarly, the percentage of patients admitted to the emergency department decreased both at 1 and 2 years compared with baseline (14 (35%) vs 6 (15%) vs 2 (5%), p=0.0002). Significant reductions in the number of asthma yearly exacerbations, percentage of corticosteroid-dependent patients, and mean daily dose of inhaled corticosteroid were also observed.

Conclusions: This study confirms the efficacy of omalizumab, mepolizumab, and benralizumab in a real-life setting with improved asthma control and a reduced oral and inhaled corticosteroid use as well as fewer asthma exacerbations and emergency department visits.