Benralizumab

Benralizumab Brand Name– Fasenra

What is Benralizumab

Benralizumab is a subcutaneous humanized interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody (IgG1, kappa) used for add-on maintenance treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older who have severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype.

This biologic therapy is directed against interleukin (IL)-5, which is known to play an important role in regulating the function of eosinophils, an inflammatory cell responsible for airway inflammation in some types of asthma. Benralizumab is not approved for the treatment of other eosinophilic conditions.

During clinical trials, all subjects with severe asthma (eosinophilic phenotype) continued their background asthma therapy, including systemic corticosteroids.

In clinical trials, the use of benralizumab resulted in the ability to reduce the annual rate of severe exacerbations of asthma requiring emergency department care and/or hospitalization.

Some trial data indicated that with maintenance treatment, the drug allowed for oral corticosteroid dose reductions while maintaining asthma control in selected patients.

Benralizumab was FDA-approved in November 2017.

Indications

  • asthma

For add-on maintenance treatment of patients with severe asthma (eosinophilic phenotype)

Side Effects

  1. anaphylactoid reactions
  2. angioedema
  3. antibody formation
  4. fever
  5. headache
  6. injection site reaction
  7. pharyngitis
  8. rash
  9. urticaria

Monitoring Parameters

  • pulmonary function tests (PFTs)

Contraindications

  • acute bronchospasm
  • breast-feeding
  • children
  • corticosteroid withdrawal
  • hamster protein hypersensitivity
  • helminth infection
  • infants
  • pregnancy
  • status asthmaticus

Interactions

There are no drug interactions associated with Benralizumab products.

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