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Tommy Tsang Cheung,1,* Tu H Mai,2,* Yen Lin Chia,2 Desmond YH Yap,1 Chi-Ho Lee,1 Cecil Chi-Keung Chen,2 Ying Huang,3 Yuwen Jin,3 James Johnston,4 Viktoria Werkström,5 Yuhui Yao,6 Xiaoyun Ge,7 Wenying Zheng8 1Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China; 2Clinical Pharmacology and Quantitative Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, South San Francisco, CA, USA; 3Clinical Pharmacology, R&D China, AstraZeneca, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4Late-stage Development, Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK; 5Late-Stage Development, Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden; 6Respiratory & Immunology, R&D China, AstraZeneca, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 7Clinical Safety, R&D China, AstraZeneca, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 8Biometrics, R&D China, AstraZeneca, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yen Lin Chia, Clinical Pharmacology and Quantitative Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 701 Gateway Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 9408, USA, Tel +1 425 5272574, Email yenlin@gmail.comPurpose: Biological therapies targeting eosinophils have been shown to be effective in treating patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. Benralizumab (Fasenra®, AstraZeneca) is a humanized monoclonal antibody binding to the alpha subunit of the interleukin-5 receptor, which rapidly depletes eosinophils via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The aim of this Phase 1 study was to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of benralizumab in healthy Chinese individuals.Materials and Methods: In this randomized, single-blind study (NCT03928262), healthy Chinese adult participants aged 18 to 45 years, weighing 50 to 100 kg, were randomized 1:1:1 to receive a single subcutaneous (SC) injection of benralizumab 10 mg, 30 mg, or 100 mg in the upper arms on Day 1. Safety was monitored throughout the study (up to Day 85), and blood samples were taken to determine serum benralizumab concentrations and for detection of anti-drug antibody. A non-compartmental analysis was conducted to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters.Results: Thirty-six healthy participants were enrolled, 12 in each dose group (mean [SD] age 26 [6] years). Following a single SC injection of benralizumab, 13 adverse events were reported by 10 participants (28%), with one mild injection-site reaction assessed as related. The mean serum benralizumab concentrations increased in a dose proportional manner, followed by exponential decreases. The mean terminal half-lives were 15.1 days for the 10 mg dose, 14.4 days for the 30 mg dose, and 15.4 days for the 100 mg dose. All doses resulted in near-complete depletion of eosinophils on Day 2, which was maintained throughout the study to Day 85.Conclusion: A single SC injection of benralizumab was well tolerated by healthy Chinese participants, with no new or unexpected safety findings. The pharmacokinetics of benralizumab in Chinese participants was dose-proportional and consistent with those of non-Chinese participants observed in previous studies.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03928262 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03928262)Keywords: benralizumab, pharmacokinetics, healthy Chinese

Background: Benralizumab induces rapid and near-complete depletion of eosinophils from blood and lung tissue. We investigated whether benralizumab could attenuate the allergen-induced late asthmatic response (LAR) in participants with allergic asthma., Methods: Participants with allergic asthma who demonstrated increased sputum eosinophils and LAR at screening were randomised to benralizumab 30 mg or matched placebo given every 4 weeks for 8 weeks (3 doses). Allergen challenges were performed at weeks 9 and 12 when blood, sputum, bone marrow and bronchial tissue eosinophils and LAR were assessed., Results: 46 participants (mean age 30.9 years) were randomised to benralizumab (n=23) or placebo (n=23). Eosinophils were significantly reduced in the benralizumab group compared with placebo in blood at 4 weeks and sputum and bone marrow at 9 weeks after treatment initiation. At 7 h after an allergen challenge at week 9, sputum eosinophilia was significantly attenuated in the benralizumab group compared to placebo (least squares mean difference -5.81%, 95% CI -10.69- -0.94%; p=0.021); however, the LAR was not significantly different (least squares mean difference 2.54%, 95% CI 3.05-8.12%; p=0.363). Adverse events were reported for seven (30.4%) and 14 (60.9%) participants in the benralizumab and placebo groups, respectively., Conclusion: Benralizumab administration over 8 weeks resulted in a significant attenuation of blood, bone marrow and sputum eosinophilia in participants with mild allergic asthma; however, there was no change in the LAR, suggesting that eosinophils alone are not a key component of allergen-induced bronchoconstriction., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: G.M. Gauvreau reports support for the present manuscript from AstraZeneca, grants from AstraZeneca, payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from AstraZeneca, and receipt of equipment, materials, drugs, medical writing, gifts or other services from AstraZeneca. R. Sehmi reports support for the present study from AstraZeneca. R. Leigh reports support for the present study from AstraZeneca, and payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from AstraZeneca. D.W. Cockcroft reports support for the present manuscript from AstraZeneca, and grants from SHRF, Biohaven, AllerGen, University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and CIHR. I. Mayers reports grants from AstraZeneca Canada and Boehringer Ingelheim, consultancy fees from Sanofi Canada and AstraZeneca, payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from AstraZeneca, and payment for expert testimony from Alberta Justice. L-P. Boulet reports grants from Amgen, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis and Sanofi-Regeneron, royalties or licences from UptoDate and Taylor & Francis, consultancy fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Sanofi-Regeneron, payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Merck and Sanofi, and leadership role as Past-Chair of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Board of Directors, Past President of the Global Asthma Organisation (Interasma), Past Member of the Canadian Thoracic Society Respiratory Guidelines Committee and Past Laval University Chair on Knowledge Transfer, Prevention and Education in Respiratory and Cardiovascular Health. T. Ho reports grants from Fisher & Paykel, consultancy fees from Valeo and AstraZeneca, and payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. I. Satia reports grants from Merck, GlaxoSmithKline and Bellus, consultancy fees from Merck, Genentech, Respiplus and GlaxoSmithKline/Bellus, and payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Sanofi. P.D. Mitchell reports grants from Teva, consultancy fees from Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline, and support for attending meetings from AstraZeneca. I.P. Magee reports payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from GlaxoSmithKline. C. Bergeron reports support for the present study from AstraZeneca, grants from AstraZeneca, Sanofi and Regeneron, consultancy fees from ValeoPharma, Sanofi, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, and payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, ValeoPharma, Sanofi and Grifols. M. Bhutani reports grants from CIHR, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Sanofi, consultancy fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Covis and Valeo, and payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi and Covis. V. Werkström was an employee of AstraZeneca at the time of the study and reports stock or stock options in AstraZeneca. T. Durżyński was an employee of AstraZeneca at the time of the study and reports stock or stock options in AstraZeneca. K. Shoemaker was an employee of AstraZeneca at the time of the study and reports stock or stock options in AstraZeneca. R.K. Katial was an employee of AstraZeneca at the time of the study and reports personal fees from AstraZeneca. M. Jison was an employee of AstraZeneca at the time of the study and reports stock or stock options in AstraZeneca. C. McCrae was an employee of AstraZeneca at the time of the study and reports stock or stock options in AstraZeneca. P.M. O'Byrne reports support for the present study from AstraZeneca, grants from AstraZeneca, Merck and Biohaven, consultancy fees from AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Sage, Teva and Affibody, and payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, manuscript writing or educational events from AstraZeneca, Chiesi, GlaxoSmithKline and Covis. The remaining authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright ©The authors 2024.)

Aims: Benralizumab, a humanized, afucosylated monoclonal antibody against the interleukin 5 receptor, α subunit, causes rapid depletion of eosinophils by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. We investigated the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of benralizumab in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) from the phase III OSTRO trial., Methods: Patients received a placebo or 30 mg of benralizumab by subcutaneous injection every 8 weeks (first three doses every 4 weeks) to week 48; a subset of patients continued in an extended follow-up period to assess treatment durability to week 80. Serum benralizumab concentrations and blood eosinophil and basophil counts were assessed to week 80. Biomarker assessments were performed on nasal polyp tissue biopsies at week 56 and nasal lining fluid at weeks 24 and 56 to examine changes in immune cells and inflammatory mediators., Results: Among 185 patients in this analysis, 93 received benralizumab. Serum benralizumab concentrations reached a steady state by week 24 (median concentration 385.52 ng mL -1 ); blood eosinophils were almost fully depleted and blood basophils were reduced between weeks 16 and 56. Nasal polyp tissue eosinophils decreased with benralizumab from 57.6 cells mm -2 at baseline to 0 cells mm -2 at week 56 (P < .001 vs placebo), and tissue mast cells were numerically reduced. In nasal lining fluid, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin was significantly reduced at weeks 24 and 56 (P < .001) and interleukin-17 at week 56 (P < .05) with benralizumab., Conclusion: Benralizumab treatment led to rapid, sustained, nearly complete depletion of eosinophils from blood and nasal polyp tissue in patients with CRSwNP., (© 2024 AstraZeneca. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Pharmacological Society.)

Background: Benralizumab is indicated as add-on therapy in patients with uncontrolled, severe eosinophilic asthma; it has not yet been evaluated in a large Asian population with asthma in a clinical trial., Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of benralizumab in patients with severe asthma in Asia., Methods: MIRACLE (NCT03186209) was a randomized, Phase 3 study in China, South Korea, and the Philippines. Patients aged 12-75 years with severe asthma receiving medium-to-high-dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β 2 -agonists, stratified (2:1) by baseline blood eosinophil count (bEOS) (≥300/μL; <300/μL), were randomized (1:1) to benralizumab 30 mg or placebo. Endpoints included annual asthma exacerbation rate (AAER; primary endpoint), change from baseline at Week 48 in pre-bronchodilator (BD) forced expiratory volume in 1 second (pre-BD FEV 1 ) and total asthma symptom score (TASS). Safety was evaluated ≤ Week 56., Results: Of 695 patients randomized, 473 had baseline bEOS ≥300/μL (benralizumab n = 236; placebo n = 237). In this population, benralizumab significantly reduced AAER by 74% (rate ratio 0.26 [95% CI 0.19, 0.36], p < 0.0001) and significantly improved pre-BD FEV 1 (least squares difference [LSD] 0.25 L [95% CI 0.17, 0.34], p < 0.0001) and TASS (LSD -0.25 [-0.45, -0.05], p = 0.0126) versus placebo. In patients with baseline bEOS <300/μL, there were numerical improvements in AAER, pre-BD FEV 1 , and TASS with benralizumab versus placebo. The frequency of adverse events was similar for benralizumab (76%) and placebo (80%) in the overall population., Conclusions: MIRACLE data reinforces the efficacy and safety of benralizumab for severe eosinophilic asthma in an Asian population, consistent with the global Phase 3 results., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Nanshan Zhong reports financial support was provided by AstraZeneca. Kefang Lai reports financial support was provided by AstraZeneca. Dejun Sun reports financial support was provided by AstraZeneca. Ranran Dai reports financial support was provided by AstraZeneca. Ronnie Samoro reports financial support was provided by AstraZeneca. Hae-Sim Park reports financial support was provided by AstraZeneca. Annika Astrand reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes: employment and equity or stocks. David Cohen reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Maria Jison reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Vivian H Shih reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Viktoria Werkstrom reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Yuhui Yao reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Yajuan Zhang reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Wenying Zheng reports a relationship with AstraZeneca that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Tanya Jandu and Helen Brereton of inScience Communications, Springer Healthcare Ltd, UK, provided medical writing support, which was funded by AstraZeneca. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Benralizumab is an anti-interleukin-5 receptor α monoclonal antibody approved as an add-on maintenance treatment for patients with uncontrolled severe asthma. Prior Phase 3 studies have evaluated benralizumab in patients aged ≥12 years with severe uncontrolled asthma. The TATE study evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety of benralizumab treatment in children., Methods: TATE was an open-label, Phase 3 study of benralizumab in children aged 6-11 years from the United States and Japan (plus participants aged 12-14 years from Japan) with severe eosinophilic asthma. Participants received benralizumab 10/30 mg according to weight (<35/≥35 kg). Primary endpoints included maximum serum concentration (C max ), clearance, half-life (t 1/2 ), and blood eosinophil count. Clearance and t 1/2 were derived from a population PK (popPK) analysis. Safety and tolerability were also assessed., Results: Twenty-eight children aged 6-11 years were included, with an additional two participants from Japan aged 12-14 years also included in the popPK analysis. Mean C max was 1901.2 and 3118.7 ng/mL in the 10 mg/<35 kg and 30 mg/≥35 kg groups, respectively. Clearance was 0.257, and mean t 1/2 was 14.5 days. Near-complete depletion of blood eosinophils was shown across dose/weight groups. Exploratory efficacy analyses found numerical improvements in mean FEV 1 , mean ACQ-IA, patient/clinician global impression of change, and exacerbation rates. Adverse events occurred in 22/28 (78.6%) of participants; none led to discontinuation/death., Conclusion: PK, PD, and safety data support long-term benralizumab in children with severe eosinophilic asthma, and were similar to findings in adolescents and adults., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov-ID: NCT04305405., (© 2024 European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: The Nasal Polyposis Symptom Diary (NPSD) is a novel and short patient-reported outcome (PRO) tool specifically developed to assess important and relevant symptoms reported by patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). We evaluated the psychometric properties of 4 predefined NPSD-derived scores intended to support symptom-improvement assessments of investigational therapies for inclusion in product labeling., Methods: Five hundred eighteen patients with severe CRSwNP from a Phase III clinical trial (NCT03401229) completed the NPSD, comprising 11 items: 8 symptom-specific, 2 symptom-impact, and 1 optional medication-compliance. The psychometric characteristics of 3 single-item symptom scores (Nasal Blockage Score [NBS], Nasal Congestion Score [NCS], and Difficulty with Sense of Smell Score [DSS]) and a Total Symptom Score (TSS, summary of the 8 symptom-specific items) were evaluated for reliability, validity, and ability to detect change. Within-patient meaningful change thresholds (MCTs) were established using anchor- and distribution-based methods. Comparative PROs included the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S)., Results: The TSS exhibited strong internal consistency (Cronbach α = .88) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient >.80). Correlation between the TSS and SNOT-22 total score indicated good convergent validity ( r  = .70). All 4 NPSD scores demonstrated known-groups validity (significant differences among subgroups of patients with predetermined disease severity levels based on PGI-S categories) and were sensitive to detect change in patients' clinical status (significant differences among subgroups of patients with reported changes between 2 time-points in PGI-S and Patient Global Impression of Change scores). MCTs for improvement were established at 1.0 point for NBS, NCS, and DSS, and 4.0 points for TSS., Conclusion: These findings support the reliability, validity, and suitability of the 4 NPSD-derived scores for evaluating treatment effect on CRSwNP symptoms and their use in clinical trials with predetermined MCTs for improvement., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: VHS, JK, and VW are employees and shareholders of AstraZeneca. AFS is an employee of Aspen Consulting, LLC, which received funding from AstraZeneca to complete the study. CI and GF are employees of IQVIA, which received funding from AstraZeneca to complete the study. OM was an employee of IQVIA at the time of the study. UJM was an employee and shareholder of AstraZeneca at the time of the study.

Background: Eosinophilic inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis, severity, and treatment responsiveness of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)., Objective: We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of benralizumab-mediated eosinophil depletion for treating CRSwNP., Methods: The phase 3 OSTRO study enrolled patients with severe CRSwNP who were symptomatic despite treatment with intranasal corticosteroids and who had a history of systemic corticosteroid (SCS) use and/or surgery for nasal polyps (NP). Patients were randomized 1:1 to treatment with benralizumab 30 mg or placebo every 4 weeks for the first 3 doses and every 8 weeks thereafter. Coprimary end points were change from baseline to week 40 in NP score (NPS) and patient-reported mean nasal blockage score reported once every 2 weeks., Results: The study population comprised 413 randomized patients (207 in the benralizumab group and 206 in the placebo group). Benralizumab significantly improved NPS and nasal blockage score compared to placebo at week 40 (P ≤ .005). Improvements in Sinonasal Outcome Test 22 score at week 40, time to first NP surgery and/or SCS use for NP, and time to first NP surgery were not statistically significant between treatment groups. Nominal significance was obtained for improvement in difficulty in sense of smell score at week 40 (P = .003). Subgroup analyses suggested influences of comorbid asthma, number of NP surgeries, sex, body mass index, and baseline blood eosinophil count on treatment effects. Benralizumab was safe and well tolerated., Conclusion: Benralizumab, when added to standard-of-care therapy, reduced NPS, decreased nasal blockage, and reduced difficulty with sense of smell compared to placebo in patients with CRSwNP., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03401229., (Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: In the Phase III SIROCCO trial (NCT01928771), benralizumab significantly reduced asthma exacerbations and improved lung function and symptoms for patients with severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma. The aim of this subgroup analysis was to evaluate efficacy and safety of benralizumab for Korean patients in SIROCCO., Methods: SIROCCO was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial of 1,204 patients aged 12-75 years with severe asthma uncontrolled by high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β₂-agonists (ICS/LABA). Patients received benralizumab 30 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) or every 8 weeks (Q8W; first 3 doses Q4W) or placebo Q4W for 48 weeks. The primary analysis population comprised patients with blood eosinophil counts ≥ 300 cells/μL. This subgroup analysis evaluated Korean patients from this group., Results: Of 122 Korean patients randomized, 86 had blood eosinophil counts ≥ 300 cells/μL. Benralizumab reduced the annual asthma exacerbation rate by 70% (Q4W: rate estimate 0.79, rate ratio 0.30 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.13-0.65], nominal P = 0.003; n = 28) and 85% (Q8W: rate estimate 0.40, rate ratio 0.15 [95% CI, 0.06-0.36], nominal P < 0.001; n = 30) vs. placebo (rate estimate 2.67, n = 28). Prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second was increased with benralizumab treatment by 0.270 L (Q4W: 95% CI, 0.039-0.500, nominal P = 0.023; n = 28) and 0.362 L (Q8W: 95% CI, 0.143-0.582, nominal P = 0.002; n = 30) vs. placebo (n = 27). Total asthma symptom score was similar for patients receiving either benralizumab Q4W (-0.27 [95% CI, -0.83 to 0.30], nominal P = 0.356; n = 27) or benralizumab Q8W (0.10 [95% CI, -0.44 to 0.65], nominal P = 0.708; n = 30) vs. placebo (n = 28). Drug-related adverse events were experienced by 2%, 8%, and 5% of patients in the placebo, benralizumab Q4W, and benralizumab Q8W arms., Conclusions: Benralizumab reduced annual asthma exacerbation rates, increased lung function, and was well-tolerated by Korean patients with severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma., Competing Interests: There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2019 The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology · The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease.)

Background: Several inhaled drugs are dependent on organic cation transporters to cross cell membranes. To further evaluate their potential to impact on inhaled drug disposition, the localization of MATE1, P-gp, OCTN1 and OCTN2 were investigated in human lung., Methods: Transporter proteins were analysed by immunohistochemistry in lung tissue from healthy subjects and COPD patients. Transporter mRNA was analysed by qPCR in lung tissue and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from smokers and non-smokers., Results: We demonstrate for the first time MATE1 protein expression in the lung with localization to the apical side of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells. Interestingly, MATE1 was strongly expressed in alveolar macrophages as demonstrated both in lung tissue and in BAL cells, and in inflammatory cells including CD3 positive T cells. P-gp, OCTN1 and OCTN2 were also expressed in the alveolar epithelial cells and in inflammatory cells including alveolar macrophages. In BAL cells from smokers, MATE1 and P-gp mRNA expression was significantly lower compared to cells from non-smokers whereas no difference was observed between COPD patients and healthy subjects. THP-1 cells were evaluated as a model for alveolar macrophages but did not reflect the transporter expression observed in BAL cells., Conclusions: We conclude that MATE1, P-gp, OCTN1 and OCTN2 are expressed in pulmonary lung epithelium, in alveolar macrophages and in other inflammatory cells. This is important to consider in the development of drugs treating pulmonary disease as the transporters may impact drug disposition in the lung and consequently affect pharmacological efficacy and toxicity.

AZD5423 is a selective glucocorticosteroid receptor modulator developed for the inhaled use in asthma and COPD. This study reports the initial, first-in-man, single and repeat dose-escalating studies in healthy male individuals, including one cohort of male Japanese individuals. Inhaled, nebulized AZD5423 was safe and well tolerated up to and including the highest doses tested for up to 2 weeks of once-daily treatment. Plasma exposure suggested dose-proportional pharmacokinetics and dose-related effects on 24-hr plasma and urine cortisol. There were no or marginal effects on other biomarkers tested (osteocalcin, TRAP5b, DHEA-S and 4β-OH-cholesterol). No clinically relevant differences in safety or pharmacokinetics could be distinguished between the two study populations, although hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) effects appeared to be marginally greater in the Japanese- versus the Caucasian-dominant study population. AZD5423, inhaled via nebulization, can be used in healthy individuals at doses of at least 300 μg for 2 weeks. The effects on the HPA axis reported herein, together with efficacy data reported elsewhere, indicate that benefit-risk ratio may be improved relative to conventional inhaled steroids., (© 2016 Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society).)

Background: Eosinophilia is associated with worsening asthma severity and decreased lung function, with increased exacerbation frequency. We assessed the safety and efficacy of benralizumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-5 receptor α that depletes eosinophils by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, for patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma with eosinophilia., Methods: We did a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase 3 study at 374 sites in 17 countries. We recruited patients (aged 12-75 years) with a physician-based diagnosis of asthma for at least 1 year and at least two exacerbations while on high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β 2 -agonists (ICS plus LABA) in the previous year. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) by an interactive web-based voice response system to benralizumab 30 mg either every 4 weeks (Q4W) or every 8 weeks (Q8W; first three doses every 4 weeks) or placebo Q4W for 48 weeks as add on to their standard treatment. Patients were stratified 2:1 according to blood eosinophil counts of at least 300 cells per μL and less than 300 cells per μL. All patients and investigators involved in patient treatment or clinical assessment were masked to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was annual exacerbation rate ratio versus placebo, and key secondary endpoints were prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) and total asthma symptom score at week 48, for patients with blood eosinophil counts of at least 300 cells per μL. Efficacy analyses were by intention to treat (based on the full analysis set); safety analyses included patients according to study drug received. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01928771., Findings: Between Sept 19, 2013, and March 16, 2015, 2681 patients were enrolled, 1205 of whom met the study criteria and were randomly assigned: 407 to placebo, 400 to benralizumab 30 mg Q4W, and 398 to benralizumab 30 mg Q8W. 267 patients in the placebo group, 275 in the benralizumab 30 mg Q4W group, and 267 in the benralizumab 30 mg Q8W group had blood eosinophil counts at least 300 cells per μL and were included in the primary analysis population. Compared with placebo, benralizumab reduced the annual asthma exacerbation rate over 48 weeks when given Q4W (rate ratio 0·55, 95% CI 0·42-0·71; p<0·0001) or Q8W (0·49, 0·37-0·64; p<0·0001). Both benralizumab dosing regimens significantly improved prebronchodilator FEV 1 in patients at week 48 compared with placebo (least-squares mean change from baseline: Q4W group 0·106 L, 95% CI 0·016-0·196; Q8W group 0·159 L, 0·068-0·249). Compared with placebo, asthma symptoms were improved by the Q8W regimen (least-squares mean difference -0·25, 95% CI -0·45 to -0·06), but not the Q4W regimen (-0·08, -0·27 to 0·12). The most common adverse events were worsening asthma (105 [13%] of 797 benralizumab-treated patients vs 78 [19%] of 407 placebo-treated patients) and nasopharyngitis (93 [12%] vs 47 [12%])., Interpretation: These results confirm the efficacy and safety of benralizumab for patients with severe asthma and elevated eosinophils, which are uncontrolled by high-dosage ICS plus LABA, and provide support for benralizumab to be an additional option to treat this disease in this patient population., Funding: AstraZeneca and Kyowa Hakko Kirin., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Benralizumab is a humanised, afucosylated, anti-interleukin-5 receptor α monoclonal antibody that induces direct, rapid, and nearly complete depletion of eosinophils. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of benralizumab as add-on therapy for patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma and elevated blood eosinophil counts., Methods: In this randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study (CALIMA) undertaken at 303 sites in 11 countries, we enrolled patients aged 12-75 years with severe asthma uncontrolled by medium-dosage to high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting β₂-agonists (ICS plus LABA) and a history of two or more exacerbations in the previous year. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive 56 weeks of benralizumab 30 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W), benralizumab 30 mg every 8 weeks (Q8W; first three doses 4 weeks apart), or placebo (all subcutaneous injection). Patients were stratified (2:1) by baseline blood eosinophil counts 300 cells per μL or greater and less than 300 cells per μL, respectively. Patients and study centre staff were masked to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was annual exacerbation rate ratio versus placebo for patients receiving high-dosage ICS plus LABA with baseline blood eosinophils 300 cells per μL or greater (intention-to-treat analysis). Key secondary endpoints were pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) and total asthma symptom score. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01914757., Findings: Between Aug 21, 2013, and March 16, 2015, 2505 patients were enrolled, of whom 1306 patients were randomised; 425 patients were randomly assigned to and received benralizumab 30 mg Q4W, 441 to benralizumab 30 mg Q8W, and 440 to placebo. 728 patients were included in the primary analysis population. Benralizumab resulted in significantly lower annual exacerbation rates with the Q4W regimen (rate 0·60 [95% CI 0·48-0·74], rate ratio 0·64 [95% CI 0·49-0·85], p=0·0018, n=241) and Q8W regimen (rate 0·66 [95% CI 0·54-0·82], rate ratio 0·72 [95% CI 0·54-0·95], p=0·0188, n=239) compared with placebo (rate 0·93 [95% CI 0·77-1·12], n=248). Benralizumab also significantly improved pre-bronchodilator FEV 1 (Q4W and Q8W) and total asthma symptom score (Q8W only) in these patients. The most common adverse events were nasopharyngitis (90 [21%] in the Q4W group, 79 [18%] in the Q8W group, and 92 [21%] in the placebo group) and worsening asthma (61 [14%] in the Q4W group, 47 [11%] in the Q8W group, and 68 [15%] in the group)., Interpretation: Benralizumab significantly reduced annual exacerbation rates and was generally well tolerated for patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma with blood eosinophils 300 cells per μL or greater. Our data further refine the patient population likely to receive the greatest benefit from benralizumab treatment., Funding: AstraZeneca and Kyowa Hakko Kirin., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)