Itepekimab
Itepekimab is a human IgG4 anti-IL-33 mAb. A phase 2 trial compared the safety and efficacy of itepekimab (300 mg s.c. every 2 weeks), dupilumab (300 mg. s.c. every 2 weeks), itepekimab plus dupilumab, or placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma192. The primary endpoint, loss of asthma control, was similar in the itepekimab (22%), combination (27%) and dupilumab (19%) groups and lower than in the placebo (41%) group. Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 increased with itepekimab and dupilumab monotherapies but not with combination therapy. Ipetekimab improved asthma control and quality of life compared to placebo and reduced peripheral blood eosinophils. The latter results are consistent with a role for IL-33 in the pathogenesis of asthma exacerbations and airflow limitations in asthma. Further investigations are needed to investigate whether blockade of the IL-33/ST2 axis can modify airway remodeling in patients with asthma.