Itepekimab monotherapy improves lung function in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma: NEJM

Asthma is a major non-communicable disease that needs immediate attention and management. Over 262 million people are affected with asthma. Monoclonal antibodies targeting IgE, interleukin-4 and -13, and interleukin-5 are effective in treating severe type 2 asthma, but new targets are essential to manage asthma.

Itepekimab was safe and effective alternative treatment for patients suffering from moderate-to-severe asthma, reveal results of a phase 2 trial by Michael E. Wechsler, MD, MMSc, director of the National Jewish Health Cohen Family Asthma Institute and colleagues.

Itepekimab is a new monoclonal antibody against the upstream alarmin interleukin-33. 

The findings of the study are published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The objective of the study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of itepekimab as monotherapy, as well as in combination with dupilumab, in patients with asthma as their role remains unclear.

The study was a phase 2 trial, randomly assigned, in a 1:1:1:1 ratio, adults with moderate-to-severe asthma receiving inhaled glucocorticoids plus long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) to receive subcutaneous itepekimab (300 mg), itepekimab plus dupilumab (300 mg; combination therapy), dupilumab (300 mg), or placebo every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. After randomization, LABA was discontinued at week 4, and inhaled glucocorticoids were tapered over weeks 6 through 9. The primary end point was an event indicating a loss of asthma control. Secondary and other end points included lung function, asthma control, quality of life, type 2 biomarkers, and safety.