N Engl J Med

Ultra-long acting biologic improves outcomes in severe asthma

September 13, 2024

Among patients with severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype, depemokimab reduced the annualized rate of exacerbations.

• The phase 3A SWIFT-1 and SWIFT-2 trials evaluated the efficacy and safety of depemokimab in patients with severe asthma and an eosinophilic phenotype and a history of exacerbations despite use of medium- or high-dose inhaled glucocorticoids. Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either depemokimab (100 mg SC) or placebo at weeks 0 and 26, plus standard care. Primary end point was the annualized rate of exacerbations at 52 weeks. Secondary end points included the change from baseline in St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score, FEV1, and asthma symptom reports at 52 weeks.
• A total of 792 patients underwent randomization and 762 were included in the full analysis; 502 were assigned to depemokimab and 260 to placebo. In SWIFT-1, the annualized rate of exacerbations was 0.46 with depemokimab and 1.11 with placebo (rate ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.30-0.59; P<0.001). In SWIFT-2, the annualized rate of exacerbations was 0.56 with depemokimab and 1.08 with placebo (rate ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.73; P<0.001). There was no significant between-group difference in the change from baseline in the SGRQ score in either trial. Rates of adverse events were similar between groups.

Source:

Jackson DJ, et al. (2024, September 9). N Engl J Med. Twice-Yearly Depemokimab in Severe Asthma with an Eosinophilic Phenotype. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39248309/