Formulary
Benralizumab: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Benralizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody that interferes with interleukin-5 receptor binding, thereby reducing the survival of eosinophils and basophils.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Benralizumab: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Benralizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody that interferes with interleukin-5 receptor binding, thereby reducing the survival of eosinophils and basophils.
Drug action
Benralizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody that interferes with interleukin-5 receptor binding, thereby reducing the survival of eosinophils and basophils.
Indications and dose
**Severe eosinophilic asthma (initiated by a specialist)**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): Initially 30 mg every 4 weeks for the first 3 doses, then maintenance 30 mg every 8 weeks.
**Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (initiated by a specialist)**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): 30 mg every 4 weeks.
Cautions
Pre-existing helminth infection Cautions, further information Helminth infection Treat pre-existing helminth infections before starting benralizumab-if patient becomes infected during therapy and does not respond to anthelmintic treatment, discontinue benralizumab until infection is resolved. M
Side effects
Common or very common Fever; headache; hypersensitivity (may be delayed); increased risk of infection; skin reactions Frequency not known Anaphylactic reaction
Interactions
**Severe interactions:**
- In a randomised, doubleblind parallelgroup study of 103 patients aged between 12 and 21 years with severe asthma, the humoral antibody responses induced by seasonal influenza virus vaccination do...
**Other interactions (2):**
- Cytochrome P450 enzymes, efflux pumps and proteinbinding mechanisms are not involved in the clearance of benralizumab.
- Eosinophil depletion does not produce chronic systemic alterations of proinflammatory cytokines.
Pregnancy
Avoid unless potential benefit outweighs risk (limited information available). M
Breast feeding
Specialist sources indicate use with caution, especially if breast-feeding a neonate or pre-term infant (no information available). Large molecular weight suggests limited excretion into milk and drug molecule likely to be partially destroyed in the infant's gastro-intestinal tract; waiting for at least 2 weeks postpartum to resume treatment may minimise transfer to infant.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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