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Mepolizumab prefilled syringe and autoinjector: a profile of their use in severe eosinophilic asthma

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Abstract

Mepolizumab (Nucala®), a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-5, has a well-established efficacy and tolerability profile as an add-on treatment for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. Mepolizumab was first available in a lyophilized formulation that required reconstitution and administration by a healthcare professional. More recently, a comparable liquid formulation of mepolizumab has been developed for administration via a prefilled single-use syringe or autoinjector, thereby allowing administration of the drug by patients/caregivers at home, which increases patient convenience. The mepolizumab prefilled syringe and autoinjector are approved for use in patients aged ≥ 12 years with severe eosinophilic asthma in the USA and those with severe refractory eosinophilic asthma in the EU. In usability studies, most patients and their caregivers successfully administered mepolizumab using the prefilled syringe or autoinjector. Patients generally found the devices easy to use, showed high levels of patient satisfaction and preferred self-administration over assisted administration.

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Acknowledgements

The manuscript was reviewed by: C. Incorvaia, Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit, ASST Pini-CTO, Milan, Italy; J.F.M. van Boven, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; S.A. Antoniu, Department of Medicine II-Nursing/Palliative Care, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T Popa, Iasi, Romania. During the peer review process, GlaxoSmithKline, the marketing-authorization holder of mepolizumab, was also offered an opportunity to provide a scientific accuracy review of their data. Changes resulting from comments received were made on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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    Young-A Heo

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Young-A Heo is an employee of Adis International Ltd./Springer Nature, is responsible for the article content and declares no conflicts of interest.

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Enhanced material for this Adis Device Q&A can be found at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11803179.

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Heo, YA. Mepolizumab prefilled syringe and autoinjector: a profile of their use in severe eosinophilic asthma. Drugs Ther Perspect 36, 131–138 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-020-00711-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-020-00711-3

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