1. Why am I using FASENRA PEN?
FASENRA PEN contains the active ingredient benralizumab, a monoclonal antibody (a type of protein). Benralizumab works by binding to a specific receptor on eosinophils called the interleukin-5 (IL-5) receptor. By binding to this receptor, FASENRA PEN reduces blood eosinophils. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell involved in inflammation of asthma and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).
Asthma
FASENRA PEN is used in adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older) to treat a type of asthma – eosinophilic asthma – which is where patients have too many eosinophils in the blood and lungs. FASENRA PEN is used together with other asthma medicines you take regularly to treat your asthma (inhaled corticosteroids plus other asthma medicines – for example a daily preventer puffer/inhaler).
If you are already using other asthma medicines (such as your daily preventer puffer/inhaler) but your asthma is not well controlled by these medicines, then FASENRA PEN may help to reduce the number of asthma attacks (exacerbations) and may also make it easier for you to breathe normally. If you are taking medicines called oral corticosteroids (eg prednisolone) FASENRA PEN may also help reduce the oral corticosteroid dosage you need to take each day to control your asthma.
You must not stop taking or reduce the dose of your other asthma medicines unless your doctor advises you to.
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) FASENRA PEN is used to treat EGPA in adults (18 years of age and older). EGPA is a condition where people have too many eosinophils in the blood and tissues and also have a form of vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels). This condition most commonly affects the lungs and sinuses but often affects other organs such as the skin, heart and kidneys. FASENRA PEN can reduce symptoms and prevent flareups of EGPA. It may also help reduce the daily dose of oral corticosteroids you need to control your symptoms.Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Published by MIMS May 2025