Fasenra Injections for Severe Asthma

Introduction

Fasenra (benralizumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat chronic severe asthma with a high level of eosinophils (blood cells) that has not responded adequately to asthma medications including high doses of combination medicines such as Advair, Dulera, Symbicort, and Breo. Fasenra is an injectable medicine that needs to be given in a physician’s office every 4 weeks for the 1st 3 doses, and then every 8 weeks. Fasenra is a manufactured monoclonal antibody that target eosinophils, one of the major causes of severe asthma. The number of eosinophils can be determined from a simple blood test. Fasenra binds to the Il-5 receptor present on eosinophils, and other cells. Fasenra works in two steps to treat eosinophilic asthma. It targets the eosinophils themselves, and it also activates the immune system to destroy eosinophils. The end result is a dramatic in the number of eosinophils in the blood and lungs, with rapid clinical asthma improvements.

Indications

Fasenra is indicated for people 12 years of age and older with severe eosinophilic asthma that has not responded to other medications.

Benefits

Studies have shown that Fasenra quickly and dramatically decreases the frequency of asthma exacerbations up to 51%, improves lung function, increases the quality of life, reduces the need for oral steroids, and lessens asthma symptoms. This medicine represents a dramatic step forward toward addressing an unmet need in patients would otherwise suffer, have a decreased quality of life, and have side effects from more dangerous medications such as systemic corticosteroids.

Safety

Fasenra is one of the safest biologically engineered medicine available, certainly much safer than oral corticosteroids. You should tell your clinician about your health history, including any parasitic infections. If you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant, it is not known whether Fasenra will have an adverse effect on the unborn baby.