Products
Mepolizumab was approved in the US and EU in 2015 and in many countries in 2016 in the form of a solution for injection (Nucala).
Structure and properties
Mepolizumab is a humanized IgG1κ monoclonal antibody with a molecular mass of 149 kDa produced by biotechnological methods.
Effects
Mepolizumab (ATC R03DX09) has anti-inflammatory and antiasthmatic properties. It binds with high affinity and specificity to interleukin-5 (IL-5). IL-5 is a protein and cytokine that plays an important role in eosinophil development, activation, differentiation, recruitment, and survival. Mepolizumab reduces eosinophils in the blood and decreases the frequency of exacerbations. The half-life of the antibody ranges from 16 to 22 days.
Indications
For the treatment of eosinophilic asthma.
Dosage
According to the SmPC. The drug is injected subcutaneously every four weeks.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity
- Treatment of an acute asthma attack
For complete precautions, see the drug label.
Interactions
No information on drug-drug interactions is available.
Adverse effects
The most common possible adverse effects include headache, injection site reactions, and back pain.
