Mepolizumab in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis

• DOI: 10.2217/14750708.6.2.231
• Publication Date: 2009-03-23T14:22:28Z
• Authors: Rana F Ammoury; Sandeep K Gupta
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 3. Good health

Mepolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to and inactivates a protein cell messenger termed IL-5, which plays a major role in the proliferation, maturation, activation and survival of eosinophils. As a result, mepolizumab has been studied in a number of eosinophil-associated diseases, such as asthma, hypereosinophilic syndrome and eosinophilic esophagitis (EE). EE is a clinical entity characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the esophagus (≥15 eosinophils/high power field in one or more fields) in the absence of gastroesophageal reflux. EE is on the rise, and this can not be fully accounted for by increased recognition. Currently, available therapies, although successful in many cases, can be disappointing in some patients, whether from lack of response, negative impact on quality of life, or significant toxicity. In order to better define EE therapy, investigators are evaluating novel drugs, including anti-IL-5 agents such as mepolizumab. Mepolizumab has been demonstrat...