Benralizumab effectiveness in a real-world Portuguese severe eosinophilic asthma population: BETREAT study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) is often inadequately controlled. The BETREAT study evaluated the real-world effectiveness of benralizumab, an anti-IL-5 receptor monoclonal antibody, in Portugal, focusing on treatment persistence, asthma control, exacerbation rates, and quality of life (QoL). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Retrospective, observational study including SEA adults who received benralizumab between July 2019 and October 2020 across 16 sites in Portugal. Data from electronic medical records were analysed over 24 months, with evaluations at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment initiation. Key outcomes included exacerbation rates, oral corticosteroid use, asthma and lung function, and QoL. RESULTS: Of the 74 patients (mean ± SD age 56 ± 11 years and 73.0% female), 66.2% were biologic-naïve. After initiating benralizumab, median eosinophil counts decreased to 0 cells/µL after 3 months. Exacerbation rates decreased from a mean annual rate of 3.12 at baseline to 0.48 by 24 months. Patient-reported asthma control and QoL improved, with ACT and CARAT scores reaching well-controlled levels in most patients by 24 months. Notably, 20.0% of patients achieved clinical remission by the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Benralizumab significantly improved SEA outcomes and contributed to clinical remission over a 24-month period, demonstrating potential for long-term disease control and QoL improvement.