The Lancet recently published the results of the SHAMAL study - which was a phase 4, randomised, open-label, active-controlled study done at 22 study sites in four countries. The UK, France, Italy & Germany. Eligible participants were adults (aged ≥18 years) with severe eosinophilic asthma.
A landmark study has shown that severe asthma can be controlled using biologic therapies, without the addition of regular high-dose inhaled steroids which can have significant side effects. It demonstrated that 92% of patients using the biologic therapy Benralizumab could safely reduce inhaled steroid dose and more than 60% could stop all use.
The study’s results could be transformative for severe asthma patients by minimizing or eliminating the unpleasant, and often serious, side effects of inhaled steroids. These include osteoporosis which leads to increased risk of fractures, diabetes, and cataracts.
The SHAMAL study was led by Professor David Jackson, head of the Severe Asthma Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at King’s College London.
Professor Jackson said: “Biological therapies such as benralizumab have revolutionized severe asthma care in many ways, and the results of this study show for the first time that steroid related harm can be avoided for the majority of patients using this therapy.”
Benralizumab is a biologic therapy that reduces the number of inflammatory cells called eosinophil. This is produced in abnormal numbers in the airway of patients with severe asthma and is critically involved in the development of asthma attacks. Benralizumab is injected every four to eight weeks.
Benralizumab is marketed as Fasenra.
Note: There are other biologic treatments as well eg Mepolizumab (Nucala) and Reslizumab (Cinqair). This study covered only Benralizumab (Fasenra)
Eosinophilic asthma is a rare sub type of asthma. It’s often severe and usually comes on in adults. The main treatment for asthma - Inhaled corticosteroids - don’t have much of an effect on it, even in high doses.
PS: Benralizumab is an anti-IL-5 receptor α monoclonal antibody that induces direct, rapid, and nearly complete depletion of eosinophils through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
A landmark study has shown that severe asthma can be controlled using biologic therapies, without the addition of regular high-dose inhaled steroids which can have significant side effects. It demonstrated that 92% of patients using the biologic therapy Benralizumab could safely reduce inhaled steroid dose and more than 60% could stop all use.
The study’s results could be transformative for severe asthma patients by minimizing or eliminating the unpleasant, and often serious, side effects of inhaled steroids. These include osteoporosis which leads to increased risk of fractures, diabetes, and cataracts.
The SHAMAL study was led by Professor David Jackson, head of the Severe Asthma Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at King’s College London.
Professor Jackson said: “Biological therapies such as benralizumab have revolutionized severe asthma care in many ways, and the results of this study show for the first time that steroid related harm can be avoided for the majority of patients using this therapy.”
Benralizumab is a biologic therapy that reduces the number of inflammatory cells called eosinophil. This is produced in abnormal numbers in the airway of patients with severe asthma and is critically involved in the development of asthma attacks. Benralizumab is injected every four to eight weeks.
Benralizumab is marketed as Fasenra.
Note: There are other biologic treatments as well eg Mepolizumab (Nucala) and Reslizumab (Cinqair). This study covered only Benralizumab (Fasenra)
Eosinophilic asthma is a rare sub type of asthma. It’s often severe and usually comes on in adults. The main treatment for asthma - Inhaled corticosteroids - don’t have much of an effect on it, even in high doses.
PS: Benralizumab is an anti-IL-5 receptor α monoclonal antibody that induces direct, rapid, and nearly complete depletion of eosinophils through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
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