Michael Wechsler, MD: Positive Long-Term Data on Dupilumab to Treat Asthma

Dupilumab (Dupixent) could be a long-term answer in reducing severe asthma exacerbations in both adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe asthma.

Recently, investigators presented data from a 2200 phase 3 open-label extension trial during the European Respiratory Society (ERS) 2020 International Congress.

The trial represents the largest study of a biologic medicine ever conducted in asthma. The data shows the treatment promotes sustained improvements in lung function and asthma exacerbations across a broad patient population with type 2 inflammation, while maintaining a consistent safety profile for up to 3 years.

The data presented during the virtual conference includes information from 3 pivotal trials lasting between 24-52 weeks.

The open-label extension included patients who finished active treatment or placebo in the initial trials, with up to 2 years of additional treatment for 3 total years of treatment data available.

Overall, patients experienced improvement in lung function by 13-22% by 96 weeks, measured by the average change in forced expiratory volume over 1 second compared to baseline from the initial asthma trials.

There was also a low rate of severe asthma attacks with an average of 0.31-0.35 events per year.

In an interview with HCPLive®, Michael E. Wechsler, MD, MMSc, Director of the National Jewish Cohen Family Asthma Institute, explained the positive dupilumab results.