GSK: Nucala shows greater reduction in exacerbations vs. competitors

London, UK – GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has released results from an indirect treatment comparison of its Nucala (mepolizumab) medication against benralizumab and reslizumab for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. The findings, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical<bos> Immunology (JACI) in September 2018, suggest that mepolizumab led to a significant reduction in clinically significant exacerbations and improved asthma control compared to both comparators in patients with similar blood eosinophil counts.

The analysis, utilizing licensed doses, matched patients based on blood eosinophil counts and asthma control scores. Mepolizumab demonstrated a 34%–45% reduction in exacerbations compared to benralizumab and a 45% reduction compared to reslizumab in higher eosinophil subgroups. These reductions are significant, as asthma exacerbations can lead to severe breathing difficulties and potentially long-term lung damage.

Asthma control, measured by the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) score, also showed greater improvement with mepolizumab compared to reslizumab and benralizumab. No significant differences were observed in lung function, assessed by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), or in reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

Severe eosinophilic asthma is a distinct phenotype of severe asthma characterized by recurrent exacerbations and inflammation regulated by the cytokine interleukin-5 (IL-5). Nucala, benralizumab, and reslizumab are all therapies targeting the IL-5 pathway, differing in their specific approach to the IL-5 cytokine or its receptor.

GSK presented these findings to provide clinicians with enhanced understanding when making treatment decisions among the available IL-5 pathway-directed therapies.