Dupilumab reduces exacerbation in both early and late onset asthma: CHEST

USA: Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, is beneficial for patients with early-or late-onset asthma, finds a recent study published in the CHEST journal. The study was also presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians.

According to the study, the administration of dupilumab in patients with uncontrolled, moderate to severe EOA or LOA reduced severe exacerbations and improved lung function. Grater reductions in exacerbations were found in patients with LOA. Also, dupilumab was generally well tolerated.

Dupilumab (Dupixent) is a monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of allergic diseases. It exhibits its action by blocking the shared receptor component for interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 -- key drivers of inflammation.

Nicola Hanania, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and colleagues conducted a subanalysis of the LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST study. Previous data from the study had shown dupilumab reduced exacerbations and improved lung function in patients with uncontrolled, moderate to severe asthma compared to patients who received placebo.

In the present study, the researchers evaluated the efficacy of dupilumab, given at 200 mg or 300 mg every 2 weeks, in patients with early-onset asthma (at 40 years of age or younger) and late-onset asthma (at 41 years or older). The analysis included 919 patients with early-onset asthma who received dupilumab and 450 early-onset patients who received placebo. There were 345 patients with late-onset asthma who received dupilumab and 188 late-onset patients who received placebo.