reslizumab

Reslizumab, sold under the brand names Cinqair and Cinqaero, is a humanized monoclonal antibody against human interleukin-5 (IL-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.

In March 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved reslizumab (Cinqair) for use with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of severe asthma in people aged 18 years and older. It is approved for people who have a history of severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) despite receiving their current asthma medicines.