Sanofi-Aventis Korea said Thursday that oral biologic Dupixent (ingredient: dupilumab) has reaffirmed its efficacy in improving the quality of life of severe asthma patients by preventing symptom exacerbations.

The company presented its study results at a recent online meeting hosted by the European Respiratory Society.

Sanofi-Aventis said that the biologic showed significantly improved Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score. In addition, investigators analyzed the phase 3 VENTURE clinical trials of Dupixent and compared the progress of two groups that received either dupilumab or placebo at baseline, week-12, and week-24.

Asthma often disturbs patients’ sleep because of uncontrolled symptoms, causing poor quality of life. Dupixent improved the sleeping problem in asthma patients who are dependent on oral corticosteroids. About 46 percent of severe asthma patients with Dupixent responded with little or no symptoms upon waking after the 24th week of administration, while 27 percent of those in the placebo group answered the same.

Asthma patients treated with Dupixent also showed improved physical activity over time. For example, after taking Dupixent for 24 weeks, about 20 percent more participants in the Dupixent group responded that they barely had physical activity restrictions than the placebo group.

“In general, people consider asthma as a disease that accompanies severe coughing, but patients suffer tremendously from the burden of disease,” said Hana Cho, medical director at Sanofi Genzyme. “Patients often find themselves having difficulty in hiking or walking upstairs, which healthy people have no problem with, and suffer sleeping problems due to exacerbations during the night.”

Cho explained that asthma patients with type 2 inflammation often have difficulty controlling their symptoms even with daily oral corticosteroids uptake. She stressed that severe asthma patients who rely on oral corticosteroids need appropriate therapy. Their symptoms frequently worsen and could lower life quality with increased lung damage and airway hypersensitivity.

“It is meaningful to confirm once again that Dupixent can improve the quality of life of patients with severe asthma with and reduce the use of oral corticosteroids,” Cho said.