The German Asthma Net: Anti-IL5(R) therapy reduces disease burden in a real-life severe asthma cohort

Introduction 718 of 2283 patients with severe asthma included in the real-life, long-term German Asthma Net (GAN) registry used anti-IL5(R) antibody therapy (mepolizumab, benralizumab, reslizumab), of which 343 had started therapy after registry inclusion (56±13 yrs., 55% female, 1.7% current smokers, mean BMI 27±5 kg/m², 4.6±4.6 exacerbations per year, ACQ score 2.9±1.4).

Results In comparison to baseline, patients on anti-IL5(R) therapy showed significantly less exacerbations (rate reduction (mean±SD) at year 1: -3.0±5.3, p<0.001, year 2: -3.1±4.3, p<0.001; year 3: -2.8±4.6, p=0.015; year 4: -3.2±3.6, p=0.020), significantly better asthma control as measured by ACQ-5 score (mean benefit: -1.2±1.5, p<0.001; -1.3±1.4, p<0.001; -1.1±1.2, p<0.001; -0.8±1.5, p=0.047), better quality of life as measured by mAQLQ score (mean benefit: 1.0±1.4, p<0.001; 1.0±1.4, p<0.001; 1.0±1.3, p<0.001; 1.2±1.5, p=0.010), an increase in FEV1 (% predicted, mean% increase: 8±17, p<0.001; 10±18, p<0.001; 12±16, p<0.001; 10±16, p=0.018), and significantly reduced corticosteroid dependency (mean mg reduction: -3.6±11.7, p<0.001; -4.5±11.6, p<0.001; -5.1±8.4, p<0.001; -5.6±9.4, p=0.005).

Conclusion Real-life, severe asthma patients treated with anti-IL5(R) biologics showed long-term benefits regarding pivotal outcome and disease control parameters including exacerbation rate, corticosteroid use, asthma control, quality of life, and lung function values, highlighting beneficial effects previously documented in controlled studies in a real-life severe asthma cohort.

Publication History

Article published online:
09 March 2023