Mepolizumab for difficult-to-control asthma with persistent sputum eosinophilia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In asthma, anti-inflammatory therapy can usually reduce airway eosinophilic inflammation; but in certain subgroups this persists despite maximal therapy, and disease control is suboptimal. Mepolizumab is an anti IL-5. antibody that might reduce airway inflammation in such subgroups.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety data on mepolizumab in two studies performed in patients with refractory and corticosteroid-dependent asthma with persistent sputum eosinophilia. Mepolizumab given intravenously once a month was able to reduce sputum/blood eosinophilia and asthma exacerbations and to improve quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS:

Mepolizumab may be a promising anti-inflammatory therapy in asthma subgroups with heavy eosinophilic load in which conventional anti-inflammatory therapy is only partially effective.

• Authors: Sabina A Antoniu
• Journal: Expert opinion on investigational drugs (Expert Opin Investig Drugs) Vol. 18 Issue 6 Pg. 869-71 (Jun 2009) ISSN: 1744-7658 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19426126 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Comment)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• mepolizumab
• Prednisone

Topics

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Asthma (blood, complications, drug therapy)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Eosinophilia (complications)
• Humans
• Prednisone (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Sputum (cytology)