Self-Administered Mepolizumab in the Management of Severe Asthma: Usability and Patient Acceptance

• Main Authors: Miyokawa R, Kivler C, Louie S, Godor D, Tan L, Kenyon N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-09-01
• Series: Patient Preference and Adherence
• Subjects: asthma; mepolizumab; home administration; best practice
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/self-administered-mepolizumab-in-the-management-of-severe-asthma-usabi-peer-reviewed-article-PPA

Reika Miyokawa,1 Celeste Kivler,1 Samuel Louie,1 Dorottya Godor,2 Laren Tan,3 Nicholas Kenyon1,4 1Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; 2Northwick Park Hospital London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust Watford Road, London HA1 3UJ, UK; 3Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; 4VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA 95655, USACorrespondence: Nicholas KenyonDivision of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine University of California Davis, 4150 V Street, Suite 3400, Sacramento, CA 95816, USATel [phone]Email [e-mail]: The increasing use of advanced biologic therapies for patients with severe asthma is transforming the standard of care, clinic workflow, and the clinic business model. Expanded patient access to at-home injection treatment possibilities with some biologics has the potential to improve patient adherence and outcomes. Simultaneously, transition to the home setting can address the escalating costs that limit access for certain patients and healthcare facilities. Such moves come with recognized risks. Garnering input from physicians and other healthcare specialists as well as scrutinizing best practice position statements are vital to implementing truly patient-safe and cost-effective strategies in medicine. Mepolizumab is the first anti-IL-5 inhibitor to receive FDA approval in late 2015. We focus on this injectable medication and discuss the specific indications and contraindications for transitioning patients to at-home injection with mepolizumab. In doing so, we review our recent real-world experiences in the University of California, Davis and Loma Linda University severe asthma clinics, which can provide the foundation for building a comprehensive clinic and home-based biologics asthma program. In addition, we offer insight into the barriers to implementing a successful program and strategies for overcoming them.Keywords: asthma, mepolizumab, home administration, best practice