Dupilumab reduces exacerbations and improves FEV1 in uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma

A recent study found that in patients having uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma Dupilumab showed sustained, long-term reduction in exacerbations and improved FEV1 regardless of the prior exacerbation history. 

Asthma affects millions of populations worldwide characterized by airway inflammation and acute exacerbations. Multiple drugs are used for the management of Asthma-like corticosteroids, beta2 agonists, and immunoglobulins. Recent data shows that Dupilumab which is a fully human monoclonal antibody blocks the shared receptor component for interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13, key and central drivers of type 2 inflammation in multiple diseases. Add-on dupilumab significantly reduced exacerbations and improved lung function in patients with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma in the phase 3 LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST study. The long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of dupilumab in patients from the previous dupilumab asthma study were evaluated by the LIBERTY ASTHMA TRAVERSE open-label extension study. Dupilumab safety during TRAVERSE was consistent with the known safety profile. The present study assessed dupilumab efficacy in QUEST patients enrolled in TRAVERSE with blood eosinophils ≥ 150 cells/µL or fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) ≥ 20 parts per billion (ppb) at parent study baseline, and ≥ 1, ≥ 2, or ≥ 3 exacerbations in the year before QUEST. 

Patients who received placebo or dupilumab in QUEST received dupilumab 300 mg every 2 weeks in TRAVERSE (placebo/dupilumab and dupilumab/dupilumab groups) for up to 48 or 96 weeks. Unadjusted annualized severe asthma exacerbation rate (AER) and mean change from the parent study baseline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were assessed.