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. 2025 Jul 23:16:1611168.
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1611168. eCollection 2025.

The effects of benralizumab on lung volume changes during exercise in experimental setting in severe asthmatics: a pilot study

Alida Benfante  1 , Alessandra Tomasello  1 , Lorena Gentile  1 , Alessia Leonarda Lisotta  1 , Paola Marasà  1 , Salvatore Battaglia  1 , Nicola Scichilone  1
Affiliations

The effects of benralizumab on lung volume changes during exercise in experimental setting in severe asthmatics: a pilot study

Alida Benfante et al. Front Pharmacol. .

Abstract

Introduction: The most severe forms of asthma are characterised by the occurrence of dyspnoea on exertion, impacting on daily activities and quality of life. It has been demonstrated that dynamic hyperinflation (DH) during exercise represents a mechanism of physical activity limitation in severe asthmatics. Inspiratory capacity (IC) at rest may be an indicator of static hyperinflation, and the change in IC during exercise can be regarded as a marker of DH. The study aims to assess whether Benralizumab is able to improve IC and to reduce DH.

Materials and methods: A pilot study on severe asthmatics was conducted. Assessments of asthma control and quality of life, lung function evaluation and 6-min walk test (6MWT) were carried out on the day of the first drug administration (T0) and after a period of 6 months (T1).

Results: Twelve severe asthmatics were recruited. Significant improvements of dynamic volumes, asthma control and quality of life were observed after anti IL-5R treatment. At T0, pre-6MWT-IC and post-6MWT-IC were 2.40 ± 0.48 L and 1.60 ± 0.83 L, respectively (p < 0.0001). Minute ventilation (VE) at the beginning of the 6MWT was 13.88 ± 4.44 L·min-1 and post 6MWT was 23.77 ± 12.11 L·min-1 (p < 0.0001). At T1, IC pre 6MWT was higher than IC pre 6MWT at T0 (2.74 ± 1.14, p = 0.010) and did not change after exercise (IC post 6MWT: 2.85 ± 1.22 L, p = 0.53). VE did not change at T1.

Discussion: These findings show the effect of Benralizumab in improving IC during exercise. The disappearance of DH provides a potential explanation for the beneficial effect of biologics in severe asthmatics.

Keywords: benralizumab; dynamic hyperinflation; exercise; inspiratory capacity; severe asthma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Changes in lung function assessments at T0 and at T1. FEV1: Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second; FVC: forced vital capacity; FEF25-75: Forced expiratory flow at 25%–75% of the vital capacity.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Changes in asthma control and quality of life at T0 and at T1. ACT: Asthma Control Test; ACQ: Asthma Control Questionnaire; AQLQ: Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Changes from baseline in IC during the 6-min walk test at T0 and after bernalizumab treatment. IC: inspiratory capacity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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