Pacenra(Fasenra) can be prescribed at the general hospitals

Passed D.C of SMC, SNUH, Ajou university hospital, and others hospitals.

SIROCCO study identifies reduced asthma exacerbation and improved lung function

The severe asthma treatment "Pacenra" is available at general hospitals.

 

According to related industries, Pacenra (or Fasenra, Benralizumab) of Astra Zeneca Korea has passed drug committee (DC) of medical institutions such as Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital , Ajou University Hospital, and Wonju Severance Christain Hospital.

 

Pacenra is approved for use as an additional treatment in adult patients with severe anaerobic asthma if it is not properly controlled by conventional treatment, and is then administered once every four weeks for the first three months.

 

One of the reason for asthma management is to reduce the risk of asthma deterioration.

 

Pacenra is an anti-eosinophil, humanised afucosylated, monoclonal antibody (IgG1, kappa).

 

It binds to the alpha subunit of the human interleukin-5 receptor (IL-5Rα) with high affinity and specificity.

 

The IL-5 receptor is specifically expressed on the surface of eosinophils and basophils.

 

The absence of fucose in the Fc domain of benralizumab results in high affinity for FcɣRIII receptors on immune effectors cells such as natural killer (NK) cells.

 

This leads to apoptosis of eosinophils and basophils through enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), which reduces eosinophilic inflammation.

 

According to the SIROCCO study of 1,205 patients with severe asthma worldwide, including 122 Korean patients, the annual asthma exacerbation rate compared to placebo was reduced to 45% in once-four weeks and 51% in once-eight weeks.

 

In addition, another clinical CALIMA study confirmed that the annual asthma exacerbation rate compared to placebo decreased by 36% in the once-in-a-week group and 28% in the once-in-eight-week group, significantly reducing the annual asthma exacerbation rate in the placebo group.

 

In both studies, the change in FEV1 (1-second forcing capability) compared to baseline was measured, and consistent improvement over placebo was shown.

 

In order to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of Pasenra in patients with severe anacid, there was no significant difference compared to placebo in the SIROCCO study and BORA study, a 56-week safety assessment extension study of 1926 patients participating in CALIMA study.

 

Asthma, meanwhile, is associated with an unexpectedly high mortality rate.

 

The death rate of hospitalized patients due to asthma is about one-third, and the cost of asthma-related patients requiring emergency treatment or hospitalization accounts for more than 80% of the total asthma-related costs.

 

In particular, eosinophilic inflamination is present in 50% of asthma patients, which can cause poor lung function, worsening asthma, and increased exacerbation rates.

 

Despite proper ICS therapy, patients with eosinophilic inflamination asthma with high levels of eosinophil are often not managed by conventional therapy such as ICS-LABA therapy, which is life-threatening due to pain caused by symptoms and frequent deterioration of diseases.