Anti-IL-5/anti-IL-5R antibody therapy is highly clinically successful in treating severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA), and SEA and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but not in COPD alone.
Interleukin-5/interleukin-5-receptor (IL-5/IL-5R) antibodies are anti-eosinophilic medications that have shown effectiveness for individuals with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). However, it has not been proven clinically effective for COPD patients. This study, published in ERJ Open Research examined the clinical efficacy of IL-5/IL-5Rα therapy with mepolizumab or benralizumab in patients with SEA and COPD.
All patients included in the study were diagnosed with severe asthma. The first “baseline” visit took place three months before the anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα therapy was started, and the second time point “follow-up” was conducted six months (±1 month) after the start of IL-5/IL-5Rα therapy. All pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were carried out while participants were receiving ongoing inhalation treatment.
Results from 84 individuals were analyzed, including 42 patients with SEA and COPD and 42 patients with SEA. It was found that anti-IL-5/anti-IL-5R antibody therapy was highly clinically effective in treating patients with SEA, as well as SEA and COPD, but not COPD alone. The FEV1% increased by 11% (IQR 5–18) in the SEA and COPD group and by 15% (IQR 3–23) in the SEA group in PFTs, with no significant difference between the two groups. In both groups, the quality of life visual analog scale (QoL-VAS) increased significantly by 2 points.
SEA and COPD patients demonstrated significant improvements in PFT, asthma management, and QoL after 6 months of treatment. A significant reduction in oral corticosteroid dosages was also seen, without discernible differences between the groups.
The study concluded that anti-eosinophilic therapy is highly effective in treating SEA patients and those with COPD and SEA, but not COPD-only patients.
Reference:
Drick, N., Fuge, J., Seeliger, B., Speth, M., Vogel-Claussen, J., Welte, T., & Suhling, H. (2022). Treatment with interleukin (IL)-5/IL-5 receptor antibodies in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma and COPD. ERJ Open Res, 8(4). doi:10.1183/23120541.00207-2022
