Mepolizumab in the treatment of eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2019 Aug 7:14:1779-1787. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S162781. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Despite maximal medical therapy, a subset of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease continue to suffer acute exacerbations. It is also clear that a subset of this population has elevated blood eosinophils. In addition to clearly responding better to inhaled corticosteroids, it is also possible that this subgroup may benefit from biologic treatments targeting eosinophilic inflammation. Mepolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against interleukin-5 (IL-5), may have a therapeutic effect in a subgroup of patients with COPD and eosinophilic airway inflammation. In this review, we discuss the biologic rationale for mepolizumab targeting IL-5 in eosinophilic COPD as well as the results of recently published clinical trials.

Keywords: COPD; acute exacerbations of COPD; eosinophils; mepolizumab.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Eosinophilia / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • mepolizumab