Twice-yearly depemokimab tied to fewer severe asthma exacerbations

In the treatment of severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype, 6-month dosing intervals of depemokimab appears to reduce the rate of exacerbations, as shown in a phase IIIA study.

Researchers used data from the SWIFT-1 and SWIFT-2 trials. The total population included 792 patients with severe asthma and high eosinophil count (≥300 cells/µL in the previous 12 months or ≥150 cells/µL at screening) and a history of exacerbations despite treatment with medium- or high-dose inhaled glucocorticoids. These patients were randomly assigned to receive either depemokimab (100 mg subcutaneously) or placebo at weeks 0 and 26. Treatment was administered in addition to standard care.

The primary endpoint was the annualized rate of exacerbations at 52 weeks. The change from baseline in the score on the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and asthma symptom reports at 52 weeks were analysed hierarchically as secondary endpoints.

Of the patients, 762 were included in the full analysis, including 502 in the depemokimab arm and 260 in the placebo arm. The annualized rate of exacerbations was significantly lower with depemokimab than with placebo both in SWIFT-1 (0.46 vs 1.11; rate ratio, 0.42, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.30–0.59; p<0.001) and in SWIFT-2 (0.56 vs 1.08; rate ratio, 0.52, 95 percent CI, 0.36–0.73; p<0.001).

The change from baseline in the SGRQ score did not significantly differ between the depemokimab and placebo arms in either trial. As such, no statistical inference was drawn on subsequent secondary endpoints.

In terms of safety, the incidence of any adverse event was similar in the two treatment arms in both trials.