Effect of dupilumab on oral corticosteroid use in severe asthma patients with improving lung function

Abstract

Background: Dupilumab (DPL), a fully human monoclonal antibody, blocks the shared receptor component of IL‑4/IL‑13, key and central drivers of type 2 inflammation. In phase 3 LIBERTY ASTHMA VENTURE (NCT02528214), add-on DPL 300mg every 2 weeks vs placebo (PBO) reduced oral corticosteroid (OCS) use, reduced severe asthma exacerbations, and improved pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) in patients (pts) with OCS-dependent, severe asthma. Aim: To assess the effects of DPL on OCS use in pts with improved FEV1. Methods: Pts were stratified by FEV1 improvement (imp) of ≥100mL or ≥200mL at Week (Wk) 24. Percentage reduction from baseline in OCS dose at Wk 24 was derived with an ANCOVA model, and percentage of pts with reduced OCS dose during the 24-week treatment period with a logistic regression model. Results: ≥100mL and ≥200mL improvements in FEV1 at Wk 24 were observed in 97 (61 DPL/36 PBO) and 79 (49 DPL/30 PBO) pts. In DPL-treated pts with FEV1 imp of ≥100mL or ≥200mL at Wk 24, OCS dose vs PBO was reduced by 39.4%/39.9% (both P Conclusion: Dupilumab significantly reduced OCS dose whilst improving lung function in pts with OCS‑dependent severe asthma.