RESPIROLOGY
CONFERENCE UPDATE

Twice-yearly depemokimab sustains 2-year response in uncontrolled asthma: SWIFT/AGILE responder analysis

11 Nov 2026

Share

 STUDY DESIGN

Depemokimab is the first ultra-long-acting biologic targeting interleukin-5 (IL-5), with enhanced IL-5 binding affinity and potency and an extended half-life conferred by a modified YTE fragment crystallizable (Fc) region, enabling twice-yearly administration and sustained suppression of type 2 inflammation.1 In the phase 3 SWIFT-1/-2 studies, depemokimab reduced exacerbations by 54% vs. placebo over 52 weeks in patients with type 2 asthma.1 Its long-term efficacy and safety were subsequently evaluated in the single-arm AGILE open-label extension (OLE) study.1

The SWIFT/AGILE integrated analysis included patients from the replicate, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled SWIFT-1/-2 studies and the subsequent single-arm AGILE OLE.1 In SWIFT-1/-2, patients were randomized 2:1 to depemokimab 100mg subcutaneously (SC) + standard-of-care (SOC) or placebo + SOC, then continued or switched to depemokimab in AGILE.1 Of the 762 patients included in the analysis, 641 entered AGILE and 629 received ≥1 depemokimab dose and were included in the integrated analyses.1

A post hoc responder analysis was conducted to evaluate the 559 patients (73%) with uncontrolled symptoms at baseline (ACQ-5 ≥1.5) who achieved a clinical response to depemokimab in SWIFT-1/-2 and AGILE.1 Baseline characteristics were broadly similar between patients with and without uncontrolled symptoms, including blood eosinophil counts and exacerbation history.1

Clinical response was assessed using three individual endpoints and a composite endpoint: a ≥50% reduction in exacerbations, ≥4-point reduction in St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score, or ≥0.5-point reduction in ACQ-5 score.1 The composite endpoint is considered achieved when all three individual endpoints are met.1

​

FINDINGS

Individual endpoints:
  • Individual endpoints included a ≥50% reduction in exacerbations, ≥4-point reduction in SGRQ total score, and ≥0.5-point reduction in ACQ-5 score1
  • Among patients receiving depemokimab over 2 years, responses observed in year 1 were broadly maintained through year 2, with 87%, 80% and 73% achieving the exacerbation, SGRQ and ACQ-5 response endpoints, respectively1
  • Clinical responses were sustained at 2 years among patients who switched from placebo to depemokimab, with greater increases in responder rates for exacerbations and SGRQ (+15 and +11 percentage points, respectively) than for ACQ-5 (+2 percentage points)1
  • Responses among patients who switched from placebo to depemokimab were comparable to those observed with continuous depemokimab treatment1
Composite endpoint:
  • The composite endpoint was considered achieved when all three individual endpoints were met1
  • In both treatment arms, achievement of the composite endpoint increased from year 1 to year 21
  • In the placebo-to-depemokimab switch group, 41% of patients on placebo met the composite endpoint in year 1, increasing to 52% among those assessed in year 2 after switching to depemokimab1
  • In the continuous depemokimab group, 55% of patients met the composite endpoint in year 1, increasing to 60% in year 21

“Twice-yearly depemokimab provided sustained, clinically meaningful composite responses over 2 years in a high proportion of patients with uncontrolled asthma symptoms at baseline, supporting its role in asthma management”

Presented by:
Professor Ian D. Pavord
Oxford Respiratory NIHR BRC,
Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oxford,
United Kingdom

​

References

  1. Pavord ID, et al. Twice-yearly depemokimab maintains clinically meaningful response over 2 years in patients with uncontrolled asthma symptoms at baseline: Responder analysis of the integrated SWIFT/AGILE studies. Presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress 2026; September 5-9, 2026

ASTHMA
ASTHMA EXACERBATION
DEPEMOKIMAB

Login

Get access to our exclusive articles.

Related articles