Efficacy and safety of benralizumab for eosinophilic asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ABSTRACTContext: Benralizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the α chain of the IL-5 receptor (IL-5Rα) and is currently being assessed in clinical trials for asthma control. Objective: Our systematic review and meta-analysis intends to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of benralizumab in patients with eosinophilic asthma. Data sources and extraction: Literature searches of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were performed to identify randomized controlled trials of benralizumab and clinic outcomes in asthmatics. Results: In total, 7 articles with 2,321 subjects met our inclusion criteria. From this pooled analysis, we found that benralizumab significantly reduces exacerbations (RR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.52–0.76, p < 0.00001; I2 = 52%, p = 0.06) compared to placebo in eosinophilic asthma. There was no statistical trend for improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second or asthma control indices such as Quality of Life Assessment (AQLQ) and Asthma Control Questionnaire score...