Response to mepolizumab treatment is sustained across 4-weekly dosing periods

• Main Authors: Ian D. Pavord, Eugene R. Bleecker, Roland Buhl, Pascal Chanez, Elisabeth H. Bel, Peter Howarth, Daniel J. Bratton, Frank C. Albers, Steven Yancey
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: European Respiratory Society 2020-09-01
• Series: ERJ Open Research
• Online Access: http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/6/3/00068-2020.full

Background Mepolizumab (100 mg delivered s.c. every 4 weeks) is indicated for add-on maintenance treatment for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. Mepolizumab has been shown to reduce exacerbations and the requirement for daily oral corticosteroids, and improve asthma control and symptoms. However, data on the durability of the response to mepolizumab during dosing periods are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy profile in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma over the 4-weekly dosing period for various fixed mepolizumab doses. Methods This was a post hoc analysis of data from the phase IIb/III DREAM study. Patients ≥12 years of age with severe eosinophilic asthma were randomised (1:1:1:1) to receive intravenous mepolizumab 75 mg (equivalent to 100 mg s.c.), 250 mg, 750 mg or placebo, plus standard of care, every 4 weeks for 52 weeks. The number of exacerbations and eDiary data (peak expiratory flow, rescue medication use and symptom scores) from two periods in each 4-weekly dosing interval (days 1–14 and 15–28) over the 52-week treatment period were analysed. Findings eDiary data and the proportion of patients experiencing ≥1 exacerbation were similar during the first and second 2 weeks of a dosing period across all mepolizumab doses. Interpretation These results demonstrate that the response to mepolizumab is sustained over the 4-weekly dosing period with no differences across a 10-fold dose range and supports the use of the current mepolizumab dosing regimen in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.