The MANDARA study explored how effective and safe benralizumab is compared to mepolizumab for treating Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA), a condition that typically requires long-term treatment with oral glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants.
This was a Phase 3 trial involving 140 patients who received either benralizumab or mepolizumab alongside standard care therapies. The study found that both medications were similarly effective in inducing remission, defined as a very low disease activity level and reduced steroid use. Around 59% of patients in the benralizumab group and 56% in the mepolizumab group achieved this goal.Moreover, the study looked at the ability of patients to reduce their use of oral steroids, a common goal in treating EGPA to minimize side effects.
A larger percentage of patients in the benralizumab group were able to significantly cut down on steroid use compared to the mepolizumab group. The side effects reported in both groups were mostly mild and included conditions like COVID-19, headache, and joint pain, with serious side effects being relatively rare.
In conclusion, the study suggests that benralizumab is just as effective as mepolizumab in managing EGPA and might even help patients reduce their reliance on steroids more effectively. Both treatments were generally well-tolerated by patients.