Dupilumab reduces exacerbations in patients with uncontrolled asthma

DENVER — The addition of dupilumab to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta agonists improved lung function and reduced the annualized severe exacerbation rate in patients with moderate to severe asthma, according to results of a phase 2b study presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.“Dupilumab added to combination therapy demonstrated an improvement in [forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)], both in liters and percent, from baseline to 12 weeks, a reduction in severe asthma exacerbations and a decrease in exhaled nitric oxide levels from baseline to 12 weeks,” Sally E. Wenzel, MD, of the division of pulmonary, allergy and critical care medicine at University of Pittsburgh, said during a presentation.