Efficacy of Tezepelumab in Patients with Severe, Uncontrolled Asthma and Perennial Allergy.

BACKGROUND: Tezepelumab is an anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin mAb. In the PATHWAY phase IIb study (NCT02054130), tezepelumab significantly reduced annualized asthma exacerbation rates (AAERs) versus placebo in adults with severe, uncontrolled asthma. OBJECTIVE: This post hoc analysis assessed the efficacy of tezepelumab in PATHWAY participants with perennial allergy. METHODS: Adults (N = 550) with severe, uncontrolled asthma were randomized to receive tezepelumab (70 mg or 210 mg every 4 weeks or 280 mg every 2 weeks) or placebo, for 52 weeks. The AAER over 52 weeks was analyzed in patients grouped by sensitivity to perennial aeroallergens and by eligibility for omalizumab treatment according to the US or European Union prescribing information. Change from baseline to week 52 in prebronchodilator FEV1 and type 2 biomarkers was assessed in the perennial allergy subgroups. RESULTS: Across doses, tezepelumab reduced the AAER versus placebo by 66% to 78% in patients with perennial allergy (n = 254) and 67% to 71% in patients without perennial allergy (n = 261). Tezepelumab improved prebronchodilator FEV1 and reduced blood eosinophil counts and fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels over 52 weeks, irrespective of perennial allergy status. Tezepelumab reduced the AAER versus placebo by 61% to 82% in omalizumab-eligible patients (US, n = 159; European Union, n = 101) and 63% to 70% in omalizumab-ineligible patients (US, n = 372; European Union, n = 440), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with tezepelumab reduced exacerbations, improved lung function, and reduced type 2 biomarkers versus placebo in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma with or without perennial allergy, further supporting its efficacy in a broad population of patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma.