Within the context of the heterogeneous phenotypic stratification of asthmatic population, many patients are characterized by moderate-to-severe eosinophilic
asthma, not adequately controlled by relatively high dosages of inhaled and even oral
corticosteroids. Therefore, these subjects can obtain significant therapeutic benefits by additional biologic treatments targeting
interleukin-5 (IL-5), given the key pathogenic role played by this
cytokine in maturation, activation, proliferation, and survival of eosinophils. In particular,
reslizumab is a humanized anti-IL-5
monoclonal antibody that has been found to be an effective and safe add-on
therapy, capable of decreasing
asthma exacerbations and significantly improving disease control and lung function in patients experiencing persistent allergic or nonallergic eosinophilic
asthma, despite the regular use of moderate-to-high doses of inhaled
corticosteroids. These important
therapeutic effects of
reslizumab, demonstrated by several controlled clinical trials, have led to the recent approval by US Food and Drug Administration of its use, together with other antiasthma medications, for the maintenance treatment of patients suffering from severe uncontrolled
asthma.