To qualify for Fasenra you will need to have ≥2 exacerbations annually requiring OCS despite a maximum dose of ICS/LABA. ≥150 cells/μL (elevated blood eosinophils).
Fasenra is covered by 78 percent of Medicare prescription drug plans.
The cost of Fasenra is $5,511.41* per 30 mg/mL.
The reason Fasenra is so expensive is because Fasenra is a biologic drug which is made from living cells which take many years of research to develop.
Biologic medications which are used to treat rare conditions are usually more expensive to market and develop and are only available through specialty pharmacies.
Fasenra is a biologic drug.
Biologics are made from living cells that take years of research to develop.
Biologics that treat rare conditions such as severe eosinophilic asthma are sometimes more expensive to develop and market.
They're also only available through specialty pharmacies.
Fasenra is an asthma medicine used to treat adults with a particular type of asthma called eosinophilic asthma.
The medication Fasenra is used as an additional treatment in adults with severe asthma that is not adequately controlled by a combination of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus medicines called long-acting beta-agonists.
Fasenra is not a chemotherapeutic agent, but rather a prescription medication used to treat eosinophilic asthma in adults and children aged 12 and above.
You will need one injection of Fasenra every 4 weeks for the first 3 doses, then one Fasenra injection every 8 weeks after that.
You continue Fasenra for as long as your doctor tells you.
Fasenra helps to control your asthma, but does not cure it.
Weight gain is not reported as a side effect of Fasenra in the product information.
However, anecdotally, some people have reported a small amount of weight gain on blog sites, although equally as many people report weight loss as well, usually because they no longer need to take as much prednisone.
Fasenra (benralizumab) isn't a steroid.
Instead it's a biologic medication.
But like corticosteroids, Fasenra (benralizumab) can help lower inflammation in the lungs.
Your doctor might prescribe Fasenra (benralizumab) along with oral or inhaled steroids to treat your severe asthma.
Fasenra starts working straight away.
Significant reductions in peripheral blood eosinophil levels occur within 24 hours of Fasenra being administered.
The side effects of Fasenra include.
Swelling of your face, mouth and tongue.
Breathing problems.
Fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure)
Rash.
Hives.