Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prospective real-world data concerning the early and sustained effects of benralizumab on asthma control in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) is lacking. METHODS: XALOC-2 is a prospective, observational, multi-national, real-world study in adults with SEA treated with benralizumab. This integrated analysis assessed Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) scores, achievement of 3-component clinical remission (which included well-controlled symptoms [ACQ score ≤ 0.75], no exacerbations, and no use of maintenance oral corticosteroids [mOCS]), and other clinical outcomes, over a 12-month baseline period and up to Week 56. Associations between remission status and key baseline characteristics were also assessed. RESULTS: 535 patients were included. Median (interquartile range) ACQ score at baseline was 3.0 (2.2-3.8). At Week 1, 58.0% (282/486) of patients had ACQ score reductions of ≥ 0.5 points (minimal clinically important difference [MCID]) and 35.0% (170/486) had reductions of ≥ 1 point (2× MCID). By Week 56, these increased to 78.6% (276/351) and 62.1% (218/351), respectively. Improved asthma control after benralizumab initiation was similar irrespective of previous biologic use status. By Week 56, clinical remission criteria were achieved in 26.7% (70/262) of patients versus 0% (0/374) at baseline. No mOCS use, lower body mass index, better asthma symptom control and higher peak blood eosinophil count at baseline were associated with meeting 3-component clinical remission criteria at Week 56. CONCLUSIONS: Real-world patients receiving benralizumab showed early and sustained improvements in asthma symptoms, regardless of previous biologic use. More than a quarter of patients achieved clinical asthma remission after 1 year of benralizumab treatment.