FDA approves cinqair for severe asthma

(HealthDay)—Cinqair (reslizumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat severe asthma among adults 18 and older.

Cinqair, given by injection every four weeks, is designed to reduce severe asthma attacks by reducing blood levels of eosinophils, the FDA said. The drug is to be used in combination with other medications, the agency noted.

In clinical studies involving an unspecified number of severe asthma patients, those who took Cinqair had fewer severe attacks than those who took a placebo, and a longer time to the first attack, the agency said. Users of Cinqair, a lab-developed interleukin-5 antagonist monoclonal antibody, also had improved lung function compared to a placebo.

The FDA warned, however, that Cinqair could cause severe hypersensitivity reactions that could be life threatening.

The drug is produced by Teva Pharmaceuticals, based in Frazer, Penn.