Omalizumab reduces oral corticosteroid use in patients with severe allergic asthma: real-life data.
BACKGROUND
Long-term oral corticosteroid (OCS) therapy is associated with significant burden on patients and healthcare resources; treatments that may help reduce their use are important to improve asthma management.


METHODS
French and German clinicians prescribing omalizumab for >16 weeks to patients with severe persistent allergic asthma collected OCS use data. OCS use was recorded at baseline and at a non-specific time point beyond 16 weeks from initiation of omalizumab. The number of asthma exacerbations (FEV(1) < 60% of personal best, requiring OCS burst and unscheduled doctor/emergency visit or hospitalization) and asthma-related hospitalizations during the 12-months prior to omalizumab treatment and during the observation period were also recorded.


RESULTS
Overall, 346 patients were treated with omalizumab for >16 weeks. Of these, 166 (48.0%) were receiving maintenance OCS (France, n = 64; Germany, n = 102). Following omalizumab therapy, 84 (50.6%) patients on OCS at baseline reduced/stopped OCS dose at the time of data collection; 34 (20.5%) stopped and 50 (30.1%) reduced OCS. In all patients receiving maintenance OCS at baseline, mean reduction from baseline in daily OCS dose was 29.6% (7.1 mg prednisolone). In patients who reduced/stopped maintenance OCS, mean reduction from baseline in daily OCS dose was 74.3% (15.4 mg prednisolone). Reductions in exacerbations and hospitalizations were observed from the 12-months prior to baseline in patients at the time of data collection, irrespective of change in OCS dose.


CONCLUSIONS
European real-life experience demonstrates the OCS-sparing potential of omalizumab in some patients with severe allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma.
Molimard
M
M
Département de Pharmacologie, CHU Pellegrin-Carreire, de Bordeaux - Université Victor Segalen, Bordeaux, France. mathieu.molimard@pharmaco.u-bordeaux2.fr
Buhl
R
R
Niven
R
R
Le Gros
V
V
Thielen
A
A
Thirlwell
J
J
Maykut
R
R
Peachey
G
G
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D005858:Germany; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab