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      Mepolizumab as the first targeted treatment for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a review of current evidence and potential place in therapy

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          Abstract

          Mepolizumab is an anti-interleukin-5 (IL-5) humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to free IL-5. It induces bone marrow eosinophil maturation arrest and decreases eosinophil progenitors and subsequent maturation in the blood and bronchial mucosa. Its use has been extensively studied in severe eosinophilic asthma at a dose of 100 mg subcutaneously (SC) every 4 weeks and, more recently, in other hypereosinophilic syndromes. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is an eosinophilic vasculitis that may involve multiple organs. Characteristic clinical manifestations are asthma, sinusitis, transient pulmonary infiltrates and neuropathy. Among the numerous pathways involved in the pathogenesis of EGPA, the Th-2 phenotype has a main role, as suggested by the prominence of the asthmatic component, in triggering the release of key cytokines for the activation, maturation and survival of eosinophils. In particular, IL-5 is highly increased in active EGPA and its inhibition can represent a potential therapeutic target. In this scenario, mepolizumab may play a therapeutic role. After some positive preliminary observations on the use of mepolizumab in small case series of EGPA patients with refractory or relapsing disease despite standard of care treatment, a randomized controlled trial was published in 2017. Mepolizumab at a dose of 300 mg administered by SC injection every 4 weeks proved effective in prolonging the period of remission of the disease, allowing for reduced steroid use. The positive results of this study, which met both of the primary endpoints, led to the approval in the USA of mepolizumab in adult patients with EGPA by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017. Therefore, mepolizumab can be officially considered as an add-on therapy with steroid-sparing effect in cases of relapsing or refractory EGPA. However, the most appropriate dose and duration of therapy still need to be determined. Future studies on larger multinational populations with prolonged follow-up are warranted.

          Most cited references70

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          Mepolizumab for severe eosinophilic asthma (DREAM): a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

          Some patients with severe asthma have recurrent asthma exacerbations associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation. Early studies suggest that inhibition of eosinophilic airway inflammation with mepolizumab-a monoclonal antibody against interleukin 5-is associated with a reduced risk of exacerbations. We aimed to establish efficacy, safety, and patient characteristics associated with the response to mepolizumab. We undertook a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at 81 centres in 13 countries between Nov 9, 2009, and Dec 5, 2011. Eligible patients were aged 12-74 years, had a history of recurrent severe asthma exacerbations, and had signs of eosinophilic inflammation. They were randomly assigned (in a 1:1:1:1 ratio) to receive one of three doses of intravenous mepolizumab (75 mg, 250 mg, or 750 mg) or matched placebo (100 mL 0·9% NaCl) with a central telephone-based system and computer-generated randomly permuted block schedule stratified by whether treatment with oral corticosteroids was required. Patients received 13 infusions at 4-week intervals. The primary outcome was the rate of clinically significant asthma exacerbations, which were defined as validated episodes of acute asthma requiring treatment with oral corticosteroids, admission, or a visit to an emergency department. Patients, clinicians, and data analysts were masked to treatment assignment. Analyses were by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01000506. 621 patients were randomised: 159 were assigned to placebo, 154 to 75 mg mepolizumab, 152 to 250 mg mepolizumab, and 156 to 750 mg mepolizumab. 776 exacerbations were deemed to be clinically significant. The rate of clinically significant exacerbations was 2·40 per patient per year in the placebo group, 1·24 in the 75 mg mepolizumab group (48% reduction, 95% CI 31-61%; p<0·0001), 1·46 in the 250 mg mepolizumab group (39% reduction, 19-54%; p=0·0005), and 1·15 in the 750 mg mepolizumab group (52% reduction, 36-64%; p<0·0001). Three patients died during the study, but the deaths were not deemed to be related to treatment. Mepolizumab is an effective and well tolerated treatment that reduces the risk of asthma exacerbations in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. GlaxoSmithKline. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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            Mepolizumab for prednisone-dependent asthma with sputum eosinophilia.

            Eosinophilic inflammation, which may be a consequence of interleukin-5 action, is a characteristic feature of some forms of asthma. However, in three previous clinical trials involving patients with asthma, blockade of this cytokine did not result in a significant improvement in outcomes. We studied the prednisone-sparing effect of mepolizumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-5, in a rare subgroup of patients who have sputum eosinophilia and airway symptoms despite continued treatment with prednisone. Secondary objectives were to examine its effect on the number of eosinophils in sputum and blood, symptoms, and airflow limitation. In this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial involving patients with persistent sputum eosinophilia and symptoms despite prednisone treatment, we assigned 9 patients to receive mepolizumab (administered in five monthly infusions of 750 mg each) and 11 patients to receive placebo. There were 12 asthma exacerbations in 10 patients who received placebo, 9 of whom had sputum eosinophilia at the time of exacerbation. In comparison, only one patient who received mepolizumab had an asthma exacerbation, and this episode was not associated with sputum eosinophilia (P=0.002). Patients who received mepolizumab were able to reduce their prednisone dose by a mean (+/-SD) of 83.8+/-33.4% of their maximum possible dose, as compared with 47.7+/-40.5% in the placebo group (P=0.04). The use of mepolizumab was associated with a significant decrease in the number of sputum and blood eosinophils. Improvements in eosinophil numbers, asthma control, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second were maintained for 8 weeks after the last infusion. There were no serious adverse events. Mepolizumab reduced the number of blood and sputum eosinophils and allowed prednisone sparing in patients who had asthma with sputum eosinophilia despite prednisone treatment. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00292877.) 2009 Massachusetts Medical Society
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              Contemporary consensus proposal on criteria and classification of eosinophilic disorders and related syndromes.

              Eosinophilia is an important indicator of various neoplastic and nonneoplastic conditions. Depending on the underlying disease and mechanisms, eosinophil infiltration can lead to organ dysfunction, clinical symptoms, or both. During the past 2 decades, several different classifications of eosinophilic disorders and related syndromes have been proposed in various fields of medicine. Although criteria and definitions are, in part, overlapping, no global consensus has been presented to date. The Year 2011 Working Conference on Eosinophil Disorders and Syndromes was organized to update and refine the criteria and definitions for eosinophilic disorders and to merge prior classifications in a contemporary multidisciplinary schema. A panel of experts from the fields of immunology, allergy, hematology, and pathology contributed to this project. The expert group agreed on unifying terminologies and criteria and a classification that delineates various forms of hypereosinophilia, including primary and secondary variants based on specific hematologic and immunologic conditions, and various forms of the hypereosinophilic syndrome. For patients in whom no underlying disease or hypereosinophilic syndrome is found, the term hypereosinophilia of undetermined significance is introduced. The proposed novel criteria, definitions, and terminologies should assist in daily practice, as well as in the preparation and conduct of clinical trials. Copyright © 2012 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Ther Clin Risk Manag
                Ther Clin Risk Manag
                Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
                Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
                Dove Medical Press
                1176-6336
                1178-203X
                2018
                07 December 2018
                : 14
                : 2385-2396
                Affiliations
                [1 ]School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy, paola.faverio@ 123456unimib.it
                [2 ]Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Monza, Italy, paola.faverio@ 123456unimib.it
                [3 ]ASST-Rhodense, UOC Pneumologia, Garbagnate Milanese, Milan, Italy
                Author notes
                Correspondence: Paola Faverio, Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900, Monza, Italy, Tel +39 338 218 5092, Fax +39 039 233 6660, Email paola.faverio@ 123456unimib.it
                Article
                tcrm-14-2385
                10.2147/TCRM.S159949
                6292233
                3f8c7780-1d2e-4ca5-aafa-b990b54930d6
                © 2018 Faverio et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited

                The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed.

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                Medicine
                mepolizumab,eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis,churg–strauss syndrome

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