'Real-life' persistence beyond the first year of omalizumab treatment in patients with severe allergic asthma: The R-Pixel study

Background: Omalizumab (OMA) treatment has been shown to be effective in patients with severe allergic asthma (SAA), but published data beyond the first year of treatment are scarce. Objectives: To examine the persistence rate (PR), to identify reasons for discontinuation and to determine the response rate (RR) and the clinical effectiveness beyond the first year of OMA treatment. Methods: Of 105 patients who were on OMA treatment at the end of the 52w observational PERSIST study (Respir Med 2009; 103: 1633), 53 (51%) participated in this study. A retrospective medical chart analysis was performed at approx. 16, 52, and 68w after the end of the PERSIST study (up to 120w of treatment). Measurements included PR, physician-rated Global Evaluation of Treatment Effectiveness (GETE), Asthma-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and systemic glucocorticosteroid (sGCS) use, emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations for severe exacerbations. Results: The PR at 120w was 84.9%. Treatment was discontinued in 3 cases by patient decision (1 relocation, 1 AE, 1 non-compliance with office visits), in 3 patients by joint patient/physician decision (2 complete asthma control, 1 AE) and in 2 patients due to non-OMA related death. Where data were available, RR (good+excellent GETE) was >85%. Absolute change of ≥0.5 point in AQLQ score remained >90% from 0w up to 120w; less than 18.9% of patients required sGCS, there were no ER visits and only 1 hospitalization during the evaluation period. Conclusions: These preliminary results indicate a high PR with OMA beyond the first year of treatment under “real-life” conditions in SAA patients in Belgium.