REAL WORLD EFFECTIVENESS OF MEPOLIZUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH ALLERGIC AND NON-ALLERGIC ASTHMA

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Eosinophilia provides a common denominator for overlapping allergic and non-allergic asthma phenotypes and offers a basis for the efficacy of mepolizumab. While efficacy and safety of mepolizumab in severe asthma is well-documented, comparative effectiveness data among allergic and non-allergic phenotypes is limited. This study compared the impact of treatment with mepolizumab on patients with allergic versus non-allergic asthma. <h3>Methods</h3> This was a retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data from Optum Research Database. The study population included patients with asthma (>=6 years) initiated on mepolizumab between January 2016–December 2019. The asthma exacerbation rate and OCS use were assessed in both the 12 months before (baseline period) and 12 months following (follow-up period) mepolizumab initiation. Allergic status was ascertained using diagnosis codes, medication use and lab test results. <h3>Results</h3> In total 240 (44.6%) allergic and 298 (55.4%) non-allergic asthma patients met eligibility criteria. The mean (SD) asthma exacerbation rate was substantially reduced from baseline to follow-up for both allergic asthma (3.19[2.49] to 2.10[2.12], p<0.001) and non-allergic asthma patients (2.51[2.17] to 1.70[1.92], p<0.001). Significant reduction was also observed with regards to mean (SD) count of OCS claims from baseline to follow-up for patients with allergic (5.19[4.47] to 3.46[4.50], p<0.001) and non-allergic asthma (5.46[4.12] to 3.20[3.69], p<0.001). No significant differences were observed between cohorts in the decreases in asthma exacerbations or counts of OCS claims from baseline to follow-up. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This study supports the real-world effectiveness of mepolizumab for the treatment of severe asthma with allergic and non-allergic phenotypes.