REAL-WORLD BENRALIZUMAB EFFECTIVENESS AMONG ASTHMA PATIENTS WITH COMORBID NASAL POLYPS: RESULTS FROM THE ZEPHYR2 STUDY

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Benralizumab demonstrated significant reductions in asthma exacerbations among asthma patients with comorbid nasal polyps (NP). This study characterized the real-world effectiveness of benralizumab pre- vs. post-initiation in a population stratified by prior NP surgery. <h3>Methods</h3> In this pre-post study, asthma patients with comorbid NP were identified from a large US insurance claims database (11/2016–6/2020). Patients were aged ≥12 years, with ≥2 records of benralizumab, ≥2 exacerbations pre-benralizumab use (index date), and an NP diagnosis in the 12-months pre-index. Patients were stratified by NP surgery in the 12-months pre-index. Asthma exacerbation rates and NP-related outpatient and oral corticosteroid (OCS) use were described and compared between the 12-month pre-index and post-index periods. <h3>Results</h3> Among the 241 patients identified, 66 had pre-index NP surgery and 175 did not. The surgery cohort had on average 2.5 pre-index NP surgeries vs. 0.3 post-index. The non-surgery cohort had 0 pre-index vs. 0.4 surgeries post-index. The overall NP cohort experienced a 58% reduction in exacerbation rates, with a 57% reduction seen in the surgery cohort and a 59% reduction in the non-surgery cohort (all p<0.001, see Figure). Percentages of patients with NP-related outpatient visits (surgery: 100% pre-index vs. 61% post-index; non-surgery: 96% vs. 62%; both p<0.001) and OCS use (surgery: 79% vs. 36%; non-surgery: 78% vs. 37%; both p<0.001) decreased in both cohorts. <h3>Conclusion</h3> In the pre-post analysis, patients with asthma and comorbid NP, irrespective of NP surgery profile, experienced significant reductions in asthma exacerbations, NP-related outpatient visits and OCS use following benralizumab.