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About half of asthmatic patients have eosinophilic asthma; in such patients, rising eosinophilia is associated with worsening asthma control and risk for exacerbations. Two anti–interleukin (IL)-5 monoclonal antibodies that work by disrupting eosinophil maturation already are available — mepolizumab (Nucala) and reslizumab (Cinqair). These agents lower the incidence of asthma exacerbations by about 50%. A third agent, benralizumab, is being investigated currently in industry-funded trials but is not FDA-approved.
In one 48-week trial, 1205 patients (age, ≥12) with severe eosinophilic asthma who had experienced at least two exacerbations in the previous year were randomized to subcutaneous benralizumab or placebo. All patients were treated wi…