Personalized Care and the Use of New Biologics

Two large trials, DREAM and MENSA have found IL-5 therapy with mepolizumab to lower risk of exacerbation in patients with asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype. The studies had patients 12 years or older with asthma, at least two exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids, and eosinophilic airway inflammation.

The rate ratio for reduction in exacerbations was 0.48 for patients with blood eosinophil count of 150cells/ul or higher to 0.30 for those with eosinophil count of 500cells/ul.  Improvement in lung function was greater for avove the 500cells/ul threshold.

With the addition of new biologic agents, we can personalize care to our patients as we assess each phenotype of asthma.  We provide Mepolizumab as well as Omalizumab injections in our office.

Author

Saraleen Benouni, MD Dr. Benouni specializes in the treatment of asthma, allergies, atopic dermatitis, and immune disorders for both adults and children. She has presented and published research at national allergy meetings and has authored papers on drug allergies and skin conditions. She is a member of the American College and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and the Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology.