The use of mepolizumab presented real-world clinical benefits in patients with severe asthma and linked comorbidities, a novel study published in the journal- Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology revealed. This retrospective analysis by Thomas Casale et al. described the real-world efficacy of mepolizumab (humanized monoclonal antibody) in people with severe asthma stratified by common overlapping comorbidities.

A total of 639 patients with asthma initiating mepolizumab treatment were included. Eligible individuals were divided into 7 comorbidity subgroups: obesity, atopic disease, nasal polyposis, sinus and respiratory infections, depression or anxiety and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during the 12-month baseline period. Outcomes included asthma attacks and its associated health care resource utilization through the 12-month baseline and follow-up phases.

Atopic diseases (73.2%) was the most common comorbidity, followed by respiratory infections (55.6%) and sinus infection (45.1%). A substantial decline of 38% to 55% in asthma attacks and 57% to 83% in exacerbations needing hospital admission during the follow-up versus baseline was observed, except for the attacks needing hospital admission in the nasal polyposis subgroup.

The number of oral corticosteroids claims (on an average) considerably dropped by 29% to 38%, and; 39% to 47% of patients had ≥ 50% oral corticosteroid dose lessening during the study period. The exacerbation-linked health care resource utilization was reduced significantly. Thus, patients having severe asthma attain real-world clinical benefits with mepolizumab therapy.