The FDA has approved clesrovimab-cfor (Enflonsia – Merck), a long-acting monoclonal antibody, for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in neonates and infants born during or entering their first RSV season. Clesrovimab is the second drug to be approved for this indication; nirsevimab (Beyfortus), another long-acting monoclonal antibody, was the first. Palivizumab (Synagis), a shorter-acting antibody, is FDA-approved for prevention of severe RSV LRTI in certain high-risk children ≤24 months old.1
- Mepolizumab (Nucala) for COPD
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ISSUE
Mepolizumab (Nucala – GSK), a subcutaneously injected interleukin-5 (IL-5) antagonist, has been approved by the FDA for add-on maintenance treatment of adults who have inadequately controlled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with an eosinophilic phenotype. Mepolizumab is also approved for treatment of asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and hypereosinophilic syndrome.1
STANDARD TREATMENT — In patients with moderate to severe COPD symptoms or a history of multiple exacerbations, maintenance treatment with an inhaled long-acting antimuscarinic agent (LAMA) and an inhaled long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) relieves symptoms, improves lung function, and reduces the frequency of exacerbations; addition of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) can be considered in patients inadequately controlled on dual therapy …