Effect of tezepelumab on exacerbation-related intravenous corticosteroid use in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma in NAVIGATOR

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<b>Background:</b> Intravenous (IV) corticosteroid treatments are occasionally used as rescue medication for the most severe asthma exacerbations. Tezepelumab, a human monoclonal antibody, blocks activity of thymic stromal lymphopoietin. In the phase 3 NAVIGATOR study (NCT03347279), tezepelumab significantly reduced asthma exacerbation rates versus placebo in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma. <b>Objective:</b> This exploratory analysis evaluated the effect of tezepelumab on IV corticosteroid use in NAVIGATOR. <b>Methods:</b> NAVIGATOR was a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients (12–80 years old; N = 1059) receiving medium- or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and at least one additional controller medication with or without oral corticosteroids were randomized 1:1 to tezepelumab 210 mg or placebo subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 52 weeks. The number of days with, and frequency of, IV corticosteroid injections as a concomitant treatment for exacerbations were assessed (based on the case report form). <b>Results:</b> Tezepelumab recipients had fewer mean days with exacerbation-related hospitalization or IV corticosteroid use, and received fewer IV corticosteroid injections per exacerbation than placebo recipients (<b>Table</b>). <b>Conclusions:</b> Tezepelumab reduced exacerbation-related IV corticosteroid use in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma.