Tezepelumab Shows Promise in Reducing Mucus Plugs in Patients with Uncontrolled Asthma

• Patients receiving tezepelumab experienced a significant reduction in mucus plug scores compared to those receiving the placebo.
  
• Specifically, the absolute change from baseline (mean [±standard deviation]) in mucus plug score was -1.7±2.6 in the tezepelumab group (n=37) and 0.0±1.4 in the placebo group (n=45).
• The study found notable correlations between mucus plug scores and various inflammatory biomarkers, such as blood eosinophils, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, IL-5, and IL-13.
• Higher mucus plug scores were associated with increased levels of these biomarkers and decreased lung function measures, including pre bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced mid-expiratory flow.

For patients who received tezepelumab, reductions in mucus plug scores were correlated with improvements in lung function and reductions in blood eosinophil count and levels of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, which serves as a biomarker of eosinophilic degranulation.

In summary, this study suggests that tezepelumab may offer a promising approach to reduce mucus plugs, a common contributor to airway obstruction in patients with moderate-to-severe, uncontrolled asthma. These findings hold potential implications for targeted therapies that address mucus-related airway issues in asthma management.

Reference:

Nordenmark, L. H., Hellqvist, Å., Emson, C., Diver, S., Porsbjerg, C., Griffiths, J. M., Newell, J. D., Peterson, S., Pawlikowska, B., Parnes, J. R., Megally, A., Colice, G., & Brightling, C. E.. Tezepelumab and mucus plugs in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma. NEJM Evidence,2023;2(10). https://doi.org/10.1056/evidoa2300135