[5] Reslizumab binds specifically to IL-5, a key cytokine responsible for the differentiation, maturation, recruitment and activation of human eosinophils.

[7] In June 2016, the European Medicines Agency recommended the granting of a marketing authorisation for reslizumab (Cinqaero) intended as add-on treatment in adults with severe eosinophilic asthma.

In a 106-patient, phase II clinical trial, the researchers showed reslizumab was effective in reducing sputum eosinophils.

[9] A large, 981-patient, phase III clinical trial showed that reslizumab was effective at improving lung function, asthma control, and quality of life in comparison to placebo.

These results led to the FDA approval for the maintenance treatment of severe asthma in patients aged 18 years and older, with an eosinophilic phenotype on March 23, 2016.

According to the phase III clinical trials data, oropharyngeal pain occurred in ≥2% of individuals along with elevated baseline creatine phosphokinase (CPK), which was more common in patients treated with reslizumab versus placebo.

[12] Reslizumab binds to IL-5 with a dissociation constant of 81 pM and inhibiting IL-5 signaling, which reduces the production and survival of eosinophils.

Furthermore, eosinophil count returned towards baseline in those reslizumab-treated patients who completed a follow-up assessment (n=35, 480 cells/μL), approximately 120 days after the last dose of reslizumab.