Late Breaking Abstract - Masitinib in severe asthma: Results from a randomized, phase 3 trial

Airway remodelling rather than cellular infiltration characterizes both type2 cytokine biomarker‐high and ‐low severe asthma

“…Epithelial mast cells are increased in mild steroid‐naive asthma compared with healthy controls, 16,56 but reduced by ICS, 57 consistent with this and previous studies 16,18 . A role for mast cells in both T2‐high and T2‐low severe asthma is supported by a recent phase 3 trial of masitinib, which reduced the rate of severe asthma exacerbations in both T2 biomarker‐high and T2 biomarker‐low severe asthma 58,59 . Taken together, this suggests that it is the activity of mast cells rather than their numbers, which is important.…”

“…16,18 A role for mast cells in both T2-high and T2-low severe asthma is supported by a recent phase 3 trial of masitinib, which reduced the rate of severe asthma exacerbations in both T2 biomarker-high and T2 biomarker-low severe asthma. 58,59 Taken together, this suggests that it is the activity of mast cells rather than their numbers, which is important.…”

Mechanisms of Mast Cell Activation in Severe Asthma: Beyond IgE

“…A treatment for one set of pathways may be ineffective for another, exemplified by the partial efficacy of omalizumab in severe atopic asthma. Of note, a study targeting Kit signaling with masitinib to reduce MC survival looks promising in both eosinophilic and noneosinophilic asthma ( 13 ).…”