The Australian Mepolizumab Registry (AMR) is an investigator-initiated, observational post-marketing surveillance registry of patients with severe refractory eosinophilic asthma undergoing mepolizumab (Nucala) therapy in Australia. Mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody therapy that blocks the binding of interleukin-5 (IL-5) to its receptor, reducing the production and survival of eosinophils.
In clinical trials, mepolizumab treatment reduced hospitalisations by approximately 50% and has been demonstrated to have an oral-steroid sparing effect. Following mepolizumab’s approval in Australia, the AMR will assess the effects of mepolizumab in “real-world” conditions.
For more information on the use of mepolizumab treatment in the clinic see our Mepolizumab Clinic Recommendations document.
The AMR was established in January 2017. It is managed by the Australasian Severe Asthma Network (ASAN), sponsored by the Hunter New England Local Health District and coordinated in Newcastle, NSW Australia. Human research ethics committee and local research governance approvals are in place for the conduct of this registry.
The main purposes of the AMR are to:
- Enable clinicians to document eligibility for mepolizumab treatment commencement and continuation,
- Document drug-related adverse effects and severe adverse events,
- Report on the magnitude of the problem of severe eosinophilic asthma, characteristics of this population and their management.
