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NICE recommends new therapy for severe eosinophilic asthma

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends benralizumab (Fasenra) for treating adults with severe eosinophilic asthma.

Benralizumab is recommended as an add-on maintenance therapy for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma not adequately controlled with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting beta-agonists in adults when the following conditions are fulfilled.

  • Agreement with and adherence to the optimised standard treatment plan
  • Blood eosinophil count ≥300 cells/μL and ≥4 exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids in the past 12 months or received continuous oral corticosteroids equivalent to prednisolone 5 mg/day over the previous 6 months (i.e. eligible for mepolizumab) OR
  • Blood eosinophil count ≥400 cells/μL and ≥3 exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids in the past 12 months (i.e. eligible for mepolizumab).

Benralizumab is not recommended if neither mepolizumab nor reslizumab is recommended. In case of equal suitability of benralizumab, mepolizumab or reslizumab, treatment should be initiated with the least expensive option. Recommended dose for benralizumab is 30 mg given subcutaneously through a pre-filled syringe every 4 weeks for the first 3 doses followed by every 8 weeks.

The drug is to be used only when provided by the company in agreement with the commercial arrangement.


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