Golimumab for severe asthma

Abstract

Background: In severe asthma anti-TNF-alpha therapies might be effective in improving disease control based on preclinical results and on clinical short-term data. However, the long-term efficacy and safety is not known.

Objective: To discuss the data on golimumab, an anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody currently used in various forms of arthritis, evaluated as an add-on anti-inflammatory therapy in severe asthma.

Methods/results: Critical appraisal of the efficacy and safety clinical data. Golimumab was not found to be generally efficacious and demonstrated an unfavourable risk-benefit ratio, but in some asthma subsets its better therapeutic effects might support its use provided the long-term safety is acceptable.

Conclusions: Although at first sight the safety and efficacy data of long-term use of golimumab in severe asthma might be unsupportive, in some disease subsets it might be really effective.