Study: Mepolizumab Improves Asthma Outcomes

Mepolizumab was found to improve patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a new study that analyzed the efficacy and safety of mepolizumab as an add-on to standard treatment for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 146 hospitals in 19 countries. The researchers assessed 550 patients aged 12 years or older with severe esoinsophilic asthma who had been hospitalized with exacerbations in the 12 months before baseline, despite use of inhaled corticosteroids and other medications.
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A total of 274 patients were assigned to receive a subcutaneous injection of mepolizumab, 100 mg, and 277 patients were assigned to receive a placebo. Injections were administered every 4 weeks for 24 weeks, in addition to standard care.

The researchers assessed the mean change in the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGQR) total score from baseline to week 24 and assessed the safety profile of mepolizumab in all patients treated with at least one dose during the study.

At 24 weeks, patients receiving mepolizumab showed significant improvements in SGQR total scores compared with patients receiving placebo.

At least one on-treatment adverse event occurred in 192 of 273 patients (70%) who received mepolizumab and 207 of 278 patients (74%) who received placebo, the most common of which was headache.

In addition, 15 patients (5%) given mepolizumab and 22 patients (8%) given placebo experienced an on-treatment serious adverse event, the most common of which was asthma.

“Mepolizumab was associated with significant improvements in HRQOL in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, and had a safety profile similar to that of placebo,” the researchers concluded. “These results add to and support the use of mepolizumab as a favourable add-on treatment option to standard of care in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Chupp GL, Bradford ES, Albers FC, et al. Efficacy of mepolizumab add-on therapy on health-related quality of life and markers of asthma control in severe eosinophilic asthma (MUSCA): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicentre, phase 3b trial [published online April 5, 2017]. Lancet. dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(17)30125-X.