Effect of Dupilumab in Korean Patients With Uncontrolled Moderate-to-Severe Asthma: A LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST Sub-analysis

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of dupilumab on the annualized severe exacerbation rates, change in forced expiratory volume at first second (FEV1), overall asthma control and health-related quality of life in Korean patients from the LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST study. METHODS: Of the 1,902 patients enrolled in the LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST study, a phase-3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study on dupilumab, 74 (4%) were Korean. The patients were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups (2:2:1:1). The sub-analysis reported herewith was performed with the pooled groups of dupilumab and placebo from the 4 original treatment groups in the LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST study. The efficacy endpoints were annualized rate of severe exacerbation events during the 52-week study period and changes from baseline in pre-bronchodilator FEV1 in week 12. Asthma control, asthma quality of life and the effect of treatment on the levels of type 2 inflammatory biomarkers were assessed. The safety profile was also evaluated. RESULTS: In Korean patients, annualized severe exacerbation rates were reduced with dupilumab (n = 49) compared to placebo (n = 25) (0.259 vs 1.942) during the 52-week treatment period. The relative risk reduction with dupilumab was 87% (P < 0.001). Improvements in pre-bronchodilator FEV1 (mean difference of 0.24 L, P = 0.021) were observed in week 12 in dupilumab-treated patients. Additionally, improvements in asthma control and asthma-related quality of life were observed; the FeNO and serum immunoglobulin E levels were reduced. The incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events was comparable between the dupilumab and placebo group. A total of 11 patients from the dupilumab group reported 63 injection site reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Dupilumab, as an add-on therapy in severe asthma, is efficacious and has an acceptable safety profile in Korean patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02414854