Long-term evaluation of response to omalizumab therapy in real life by a novel multimodular approach: The Real-life Effectiveness of Omalizumab Therapy (REALITY) study

Background: The evidence on long-term real-life response measures to omalizumab therapy in moderate to severe asthma is limited. A universal assessment tool is needed to adequately evaluate response to omalizumab in these patients. Objective: To design a multimodular response assessment tool and use it to measure and define response to omalizumab therapy in real-world settings. Methods: The Real-life Effectiveness of Omalizumab Therapy (REALITY) study is a retrospective, long-term, real-life clinical study that evaluates response in individuals with allergic asthma who received omalizumab between 2004 and 2011. The Standardized Measure to Assess Response to Therapy (SMART) tool was designed to define response (1 year before to after treatment) by 3 modules: (1) physician's subjective assessment of asthma symptoms and control; (2) objective assessment of 6 parameters: improvement by 50% or more for asthma exacerbation, steroid bursts, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations; increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 200 mL or greater; and improved Asthma Control Test score of 3 or higher; –and (3) true responders (patient meeting both module 1 and 2 criteria). Response was assessed and compared for 3 modules at desired time points. Results: A total of 198 patients (mean age, 31.7 years [range, 3-77 years]; 98 [49%] female; mean omalizumab therapy duration, 2.49 years [range, 3 months to 8 years]; mean omalizumab dosage, 473 mg every 4 weeks; median baseline IgE level, 433 IU/mL) were included in this analysis. Overall visit adherence was 78%, although the adherence rate decreased annually by 20%. Response rates assessed by SMART modules were 61.3%, 60.8%, and 41.8% at 16 weeks, 84.8%, 72.2%, and 64.6% at 1 year, 82.4%, 71.2%, and 63.2% at 2 years, and 95.1%, 87.8%, and 85.4% at 5 years for modules 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There were no significant adverse reactions. Conclusion: The REALITY study has demonstrated long-term effectiveness of omalizumab therapy in individuals with allergic asthma in real-life settings. The SMART tool is promising as a potential standard assessment tool to measure and define response to asthma therapy. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01776177.