Journal of Asthma and Allergy (May 2023)

Real-World Experience on the Use of Mepolizumab from the Severe Asthma Registry of the German Asthma Net (MepoGAN-Study)

  • Korn S,
  • Milger K,
  • Skowasch D,
  • Schulz C,
  • Mohrlang C,
  • Wernitz M,
  • Paulsson T,
  • Hennig M,
  • Buhl R

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 541 – 552

Abstract

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Stephanie Korn,1 Katrin Milger,2 Dirk Skowasch,3 Christian Schulz,4 Cordula Mohrlang,5 Martin Wernitz,5 Thomas Paulsson,6 Michael Hennig,5 Roland Buhl7 1IKF Pneumologie Mainz, Mainz and Thoraxklinik Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; 2Department of Medicine V, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich and Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; 3University Hospital Bonn, Pneumology, Bonn, Germany; 4University Hospital Regensburg, Internal Medicine II, Pneumology, Regensburg, Germany; 5GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG, Munich, Germany; 6GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Brentford, UK; 7Pulmonary Department, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyCorrespondence: Cordula Mohrlang, GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG, Prinzregentenplatz 9, München, D-81675, Germany, Tel + 49 163 360 5201, Email [email protected]: The German Asthma Net (GAN) operates a Severe Asthma Registry that provides an overview of the clinical presentation and management of patients with severe asthma. Based upon data from the GAN registry, the MepoGAN study aimed to describe clinical profiles and treatment outcomes of patients who were treated with the anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody mepolizumab (NucalaTM) in routine practice in Germany.Patients and Methods: The MepoGAN study is a descriptive retrospective non-interventional cohort study. Mepolizumab patients enrolled in the GAN registry were evaluated with results being described in two different data sets: Cohort 1 (n=131) started on mepolizumab when the patients entered the registry. Results were reported after 4 months of therapy. Patients in Cohort 2 (n=220) were on treatment with mepolizumab at the time of enrollment and follow-up data were collected after a further year of treatment. Outcome measures included asthma control, lung function, disease symptoms, OCS use, and exacerbations.Results: Patients enrolled in the registry who started on mepolizumab in Cohort 1 had a mean age of 55 years, were former smokers in 51% of the cases, had a mean blood eosinophil count of 500 cells/μL, and frequently had maintenance OCS use (55%). In this real-world setting, mepolizumab therapy was associated with a clinically relevant reduction in blood eosinophils (− 445.7 cells/μL), OCS use (− 30%), and improvement in asthma control. Fifty-five percent (vs 10% at baseline) of the patients reported controlled or partially controlled asthma 4 months after starting therapy. In patients who were already treated with mepolizumab at registry enrollment (Cohort 2), asthma control and lung function remained stable after a further year of observation.Conclusion: The GAN registry data confirm the effectiveness of mepolizumab in a real-world setting. Treatment benefits are maintained over time. While the asthma of patients treated in routine practice was more severe, the results observed with mepolizumab are broadly consistent with RCTs.Keywords: severe asthma, registry, real-world, mepolizumab, patient profile, asthma control

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