Fasenra · benralizumab

What is Fasenra?

Fasenra targets the IL-5 receptor on eosinophils, leading to rapid and near-complete depletion of eosinophils. The convenient every-eight-week dosing after the loading phase is a meaningful advantage for many patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.

What it treats

Fasenra is FDA-approved for the following indications:

• Severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype (patients ≥6 years)
• Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) in adults — approved September 2024
• Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) without an identifiable non-hematologic secondary cause (patients ≥12 years) — approved May 14, 2026

The HES indication is recent. Dosing for HES is 30 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks, which differs from the every-8-week maintenance schedule used in severe asthma.

How it is administered

Fasenra is administered subcutaneously every four weeks for the first three doses, then every eight weeks for maintenance. Both in-office and self-administered options are available.

Patient assistance & support

The manufacturer offers a patient support program — AZ&Me / Access 360 — that can help with insurance navigation, copay assistance for eligible patients, nursing support, and ongoing education. More information is available at https://www.astrazeneca-us.com/patients/access-360.html.

Coordination at Optimed Immunology

Treatment with Fasenra is initiated and monitored by Dr. McNeil. Prior authorizations are handled in-house — patients are not asked to navigate insurance approvals on their own. This is a subcutaneous self-administered medication. After prior authorization, the prescription is sent to a specialty pharmacy that ships the medication directly to the patient. A manufacturer-sponsored nurse or office-based training visit is typically arranged for the first dose so patients are confident with self-administration before continuing at home.

Important safety note: This page is not a substitute for the FDA prescribing information. Risks, contraindications, drug interactions, and required monitoring vary by patient. The official manufacturer website (https://www.fasenra.com) provides the most current full prescribing and safety information. Treatment decisions and monitoring are individualized — please discuss with Dr. McNeil whether Fasenra is appropriate for your situation.