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

Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2009 Jun;18(6):869-71. doi: 10.1517/13543780902922678.

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.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Comment

MeSH terms

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

Substances

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