Benralizumab Exacerbation Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Asthma Exacerbation Profile in patients on open label treatment with Benralizumab for severe eosinophilic asthma - an exploratory cohort study
IRAS ID
256756
Contact name
Rekha Chaudhuri
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Eudract number
2018-003699-11
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 10 months, 2 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Asthma, a common inflammatory condition, is usually well managed with inhaled corticosteroids that target eosinophilic inflammation. In severe asthma cases the management and prevention of exacerbations still presents a problem. This study aims to understand the nature of asthma exacerbations that occur despite benralizumab therapy to help improve severe asthma management.
The study will involve 150 patients recruited from severe asthma clinics in NHS hospitals UK wide. Participants will receive benralizumab treatment for either 56 or 80 weeks.
Summary of Results
The BenRex study was designed to study asthma attacks or exacerbations while people with asthma were being treated with the biologic injection, benralizumab. This injection reduces blood eosinophils, a cell that usually increases during asthma attacks.
The aim of the study was to understand why asthma attacks would still occur despite benralizumab.
156 people with severe asthma took part, from 15 hospitals in the UK. 91 of them had an asthma attack during the study and 65 remained well with no attack. We were able to study 121 asthma exacerbations when people attended the hospital before taking any steroid tablets or antibiotics.
During the asthma attack, asthma control score worsened and lung function reduced. The novel finding was that even during the asthma attack, blood eosinophils and sputum eosinophils remained at a median level of 0. Infection was an important feature of these attacks.
Various samples were provided by the participants which are now being analysed to study these attacks further.
Response rate to benralizumab [reduction of oral steroids by at least half] was high at 86%.
We are grateful to all participants who gave up their time to help with the BenRex study.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0571
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion