Benralizumab Reduces Asthma Exacerbations, ED Visits, and Hospitalizations

The use of monoclonal antibody benralizumab in patients with severe asthma was associated with large reductions in asthma exacerbations, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations over 1 year, according to research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, held in New Orleans from November 4 to 8, 2021.

The research findings were from the observational CHRONICLE study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03373045), which included a real-world cohort of patients with severe asthma in the United States who were managed by allergists/immunologists or pulmonologists. Patients were receiving biologics or maintenance systemic corticosteroids. The study also included patients with uncontrolled disease despite the use of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids with additional controllers.

Researchers calculated annualized rates of asthma exacerbations and asthma-related ED visits and hospitalizations in 93 patients who had 12 months of data before and 12 months of data after benralizumab initiation as well as a record of at least1 exacerbation prior to the index period. The investigators conducted analyses for 141 patients with 6 to 12 months of data prior to and after the index period and by blood eosinophil count.

Approximately 60% of patients at 12 months post-index had no exacerbations. The 12-month pre- and post-index annualized asthma exacerbation rates (2.10 and 0.98, respectively) corresponded to a 53% rate reduction in exacerbations (P <.001). At 12 months post-index, the asthma-related ED visit rate reduction was 49%, while the hospitalization rate reduction was 46%.

In the patients with 6 to 12 months of data before and after the index period, there was a 61% rate reduction in asthma exacerbations (P <.001). Additionally, the asthma ED visit rate decreased by 56% (P =.001), and the asthma hospitalization rate decreased by 48% (P =.02) in these patients. In patients with blood eosinophil counts of at least 300 cells/mL and blood eosinophil counts of less than 300 cells/uL, exacerbation rate reductions at 12 months were 65% and 52%, respectively.

Researchers concluded that benralizumab may substantially reduce asthma exacerbations in real-world patients.

Reference

Panettieri R, Lugogo N, Moore W, et al. Benralizumab real-world effectiveness on exacerbations among us specialist-treated patients with severe asthma: data from CHRONICLE. Presented at: American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting; November 4-8, 2021; New Orleans, LA. Abstract P062.