ERS 2016. LBA OA1969: Benralizumab reduces exacerbations in severe, uncontrolled asthma: Results of the phase III CALIMA trial

J. Mark FitzGerald et al.

Results: Annual asthma exacerbation rates (primary endpoint) were reduced significantly, with improvements in lung function and asthma symptoms in pts receiving either regimen of benralizumab compared with PBO at Week 56. Adverse events were similar between the benralizumab-treated groups and PBO.

Conclusions: Benralizumab significantly reduced annual exacerbation rates, improved lung function, and reduced asthma symptoms, in patients with severe, eosinophilic asthma.

ERS 2016. LBA OA4832 Benralizumab provides significant improvements for patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma: SIROCCO Phase III results

Eugene Bleecker et al.

Results: For the primary analysis, pts receiving benralizumab achieved significantly greater decreases in the annual exacerbation rate vs. PBO (table), and lung function and asthma symptom improvement at Week 48. Adverse events were similar between the benralizumab-treated groups and PBO.

Conclusions: Benralizumab significantly reduced annual exacerbation rates, improved lung function, and reduced asthma symptoms, in patients with severe, eosinophilic asthma.

CARE™ Faculty Perspective: These replicate studies confirm the following:

1)     In patients with eosinophilic asthma, blocking IL-5 signalling by blocking the receptor is also as effective as blocking IL5 directly
2)     A convenient 8-weekly sub-cutaneous injection is effective in reducing exacerbation in patients with moderate to severe asthma. The effect is more obvious in patients with higher blood eosinophil count.