FDA approves first drug for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, a rare disease formerly known as the Churg-Strauss Syndrome - Drug Information Update

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	The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today expanded the approved use of Nucala (mepolizumab) to treat adult patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a rare autoimmune disease that causes vasculitis, an inflammation in the wall of blood vessels of the body. This new indication provides the first FDA-approved therapy specifically to treat EGPA. According to the National Institutes of Health, EGPA (formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome) is a condition characterized by asthma, high levels of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell that helps fight infection), and inflammation of small- to medium-sized blood vessels. The inflamed vessels can affect various organ systems including the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, skin, heart and nervous system. It is estimated that approximately 0.11 to 2.66 new cases per 1 million people are diagnosed each year, with an overall prevalence of 10.7 to 14 per 1,000,000 adults. The most common adverse reactions associated with Nucala in clinical trials included headache, injection site reaction, back pain, and fatigue. Nucala should not be administered to patients with a history of hypersensitivity to mepolizumab or one of its ingredients. It should not be used to treat acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, angioedema, bronchospasm, hypotension, urticaria, rash, have occurred. Patients should discontinue treatment in the event of a hypersensitivity reaction. Patients should not discontinue systemic or inhaled corticosteroids abruptly upon beginning treatment with Nucala. Instead, patients should decrease corticosteroids gradually, if appropriate. Health care providers should treat patients with pre-existing helminth infections before treating with Nucala because it is unknown if Nucala would affect patients’ responses against parasitic infections. In addition, herpes zoster infections have occurred in patients receiving Nucala. Health care providers should consider vaccination if medically appropriate. For more information, please visit: Nucala.