Dupilumab reduces exacerbation rates in asthma patients

Dupilumab significantly reduced severe exacerbation rates in patients with late-onset asthma with or without fixed airway obstruction, according to a recent study presented at the ATS (American Thoracic Society) 2019 International Conference. At weeks 12 and 52, the researchers observed improvements in lung function in patients with late-onset asthma and fixed airway obstruction -- who experience worse asthma outcomes than do those without fixed airway obstruction.

Dupilumab, a fully human VelocImmune-derived anti-interleukin (IL)-4 receptor α monoclonal antibody, inhibits signaling of IL-4 and IL-13, which are key drivers of type 2 inflammation. It is approved for the treatment of inadequately controlled, moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and, in the USA, for patients aged ≥12 years with moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or corticosteroid-dependent asthma.

This post hoc analysis assessed the efficacy of dupilumab in patients with late onset of asthma (age >40 years) and baseline post-bronchodilator FEV₁/forced vital capacity [FVC] ratio <0.7 (which suggests fixed airway obstruction) or ≥0.7.

The researchers analyzed the annualized rate of severe exacerbations during the 52-week treatment period using negative binomial regression models. Change from baseline in pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV₁ (L) and pre-bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC ratio at Weeks 12 and 52 were analyzed using mixed-effects models with repeated measures.

Key findings of the study include:

• Dupilumab 200mg and 300mg q2w vs placebo significantly reduced the annualized rate of severe exacerbations in patients with late-onset asthma and fixed airway obstruction (─68.8% and ─75.7%, respectively) and in patients without fixed airway obstruction (─55.1% and ─50.7%, respectively).


• At Week 12, pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV₁ and FEV₁/FVC ratio improved in dupilumab-treated patients with late-onset asthma and fixed airway obstruction; similar improvements were observed at Week 52 (dupilumab 200mg q2w P<0.05 for pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV₁; dupilumab 300mg q2w pre-bronchodilator FEV₁, post-bronchodilator FEV_1).


• Late-onset asthma patients without fixed airway obstruction had more modest improvements vs placebo in pre-bronchodilator FEV₁ at Weeks 12 and 52 than did those with fixed airway obstruction.


• The most frequent adverse event in dupilumab-treated groups vs matched-placebo was injection-site reactions (15%/18% vs 5%/10%, respectively).

Click here to access the abstract