Real-World Impact of Mepolizumab in COPD in a US Commercial and Medicare Claims Database

Purpose

Mepolizumab reduces exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and was recently approved in the United States (US) for the add-on maintenance treatment of adult patients with inadequately controlled COPD and an eosinophilic phenotype. Given the limited real-world data on mepolizumab effectiveness in COPD, this study assessed its real-world impact in patients with COPD, prior to US regulatory approval of mepolizumab for COPD. Patients and methods: Retrospective, longitudinal analysis from the US Komodo Research claims database (January 2016-June 2024). The first observed mepolizumab claim was defined as the index date. All patients were aged ≥40 years on index date, had ≥2 COPD diagnosis claims in the 12 months pre-index (baseline period) or on index date, and required ≥2 pharmacy/medical claims for mepolizumab from index date to end of observation. Patients with ≥2 asthma diagnosis claims or ≥1 diagnosis claim(s) for cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, or α-1 antitrypsin deficiency during the baseline period or on index date were excluded. Outcomes assessed during the 12 months post- versus 12 months pre-mepolizumab initiation included annualized exacerbation rates, oral corticosteroid (OCS) use, and COPD-related healthcare resource utilization (HCRU).