CHARACTERIZATION OF PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA INITIATING DUPILUMAB FROM A REAL-WORLD STUDY: THE RAPID REGISTRY

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Dupilumab is a human monoclonal antibody that blocks interleukin-4/-13, key and central drivers of type 2 inflammation in multiple diseases. In QUEST, dupilumab significantly improved clinical outcomes in patients with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma and was generally well tolerated. RAPID (NCT04287621) is a global, prospective registry, intended to characterize patients with asthma initiating dupilumab therapy in real-world clinical practice. In this study, we aimed to characterize the patient population enrolled during the first 6 months of RAPID. <h3>Methods</h3> The RAPID registry enrolls patients aged ≥12 years who initiate dupilumab treatment for the primary indication of asthma according to country-specific prescribing information. <h3>Results</h3> Baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the first 6 months are summarized (<b>Table</b>): age (mean [SD]): 50.10 years (17.41); female (%): 65.4; severe asthma exacerbations in previous year (mean [SD]): 4.10 (6.30); pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) (mean [SD]): 2.29 L (1.14); percent predicted FEV₁ (mean [SD]): 70.34% (20.30); fractional exhaled nitric oxide (mean [SD]): 42.2 ppb (34.83); eosinophils (median [IQR]): 305 cells/µL (495); coexisting type 2 conditions (%): allergic rhinitis (81.0), chronic rhinosinusitis (41.5), nasal polyps (33.7)*, atopic dermatitis (26.8). <h3>Conclusion</h3> We characterized asthma patients from the RAPID study up to 6 months of enrollment. Patients initiating dupilumab had a high number of exacerbations in the past year, impaired lung function, elevated levels of type 2 biomarkers and high prevalence of coexisting type 2 diseases, suggesting a population with high disease burden despite standard-of-care treatment.