What is "reslizumab"

n. A humanized monoclonal antibody under investigation for the treatment of eosinophil-meditated inflammations of the airways, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

Reslizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against human interleukin-5. Reslizumab binds specifically to IL 5, a key cytokine responsible for the differentiation, maturation, recruitment and activation of human eosinophils. By binding to human IL 5, it blocks its biological function; consequently survival and activity of eosinophils are reduced. The benefits with reslizumab are its ability to reduce the exacerbation rate and improve lung function and asthma-related quality of life in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (with blood eosinophil count ≥ 400 cells/μL) and with at least one previous asthma exacerbation in the preceding year. The most common side effects are increased blood creatine phosphokinase, myalgia and anaphylactic reactions.

The FDA approved reslizumab (US trade name Cinqair) for use with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of severe asthma in patients aged 18 years and older on 23 March 2016. Cinqair is approved for patients who have a history of severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) despite receiving their current asthma medicines.

The European Medicines Agency recommended the granting of a marketing authorisation for reslizumab (EU trade name Cinqaero) intended as add-on treatment in adult patients with severe eosinophilic asthma on 23 June 2016.