(StatePoint) For Barb, who has been living with bronchiectasis for nearly 20 years, shortness of breath and an uncontrollable cough were a part of her daily life. She knew something was wrong because her coughing and the excessive mucus she continued to cough up didn’t feel normal.
Bronchiectasis is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease that can worsen over time. People living with the condition often experience symptoms such as chronic cough, excess mucus, and recurrent lung infections, which may overlap with other respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD. An estimated 500,000 adults in the United States are diagnosed with bronchiectasis, and it’s believed that even more may be living with the disease. Though bronchiectasis is chronic and irreversible, there are treatments and disease management plans for patients.
Prior to receiving a clear diagnosis, Barb underwent multiple tests, and despite trying various recommended treatment approaches, her symptoms persisted, and she was officially diagnosed with bronchiectasis.
Following her diagnosis, Barb was relieved to have a better understanding of her disease, but her daily life didn’t improve overnight.
“I would be coughing a lot of the time,” Barb shared. “I would not be able to go places because every time I went someplace, I would be coughing, which would be embarrassing for me, and people would wonder what was the matter with me because I couldn’t get rid of the cough.”
Something needed to change.
Now, Barb takes once-daily BRINSUPRI® (brensocatib), the first and only FDA-approved treatment indicated for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in people 12 years and older. The most common side effects with treatment include headache, rash, dry skin, small areas of skin thickening, and high blood pressure. For more information, visit https://www.brinsuprihcp.com/.
“Some people may have a different experience, but this is my story. I don’t worry about whether I’m going to get a flare as much. It’s been really fantastic for me,” says Barb.
This article is sponsored by Insmed.
BRINSUPRI is indicated for the treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Dermatologic Adverse Reactions
Treatment with BRINSUPRI is associated with an increase in dermatologic adverse reactions, including rash, dry skin, and hyperkeratosis. Monitor patients for development of new rashes or skin conditions and refer patients to a dermatologist for evaluation of new dermatologic findings.
Gingival and Periodontal Adverse Reactions
Treatment with BRINSUPRI is associated with an increase in gingival and periodontal adverse reactions. Refer patients to dental care services for regular dental checkups while taking BRINSUPRI. Advise patients to perform routine dental hygiene.
It is unknown whether administration of live attenuated vaccines during BRINSUPRI treatment will affect the safety or effectiveness of these vaccines. The use of live attenuated vaccines should be avoided in patients receiving BRINSUPRI.
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥2%) in the ASPEN trial included upper respiratory tract infection, headache, rash, dry skin, hyperkeratosis, and hypertension. The safety profile for adult patients with NCFB in WILLOW was generally similar to ASPEN, except for a higher incidence of gingival and periodontal adverse reactions.
Less Common Adverse Reactions
Liver Function Test Elevations
In ASPEN, there was an increase from baseline in average ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase levels at all time points from Week 4 through Week 52 in both BRINSUPRI 10 mg and 25 mg arms compared to placebo. The incidence of ALT >3X upper limit of normal (ULN) was 0%, 1.2%, and 0.9%; the incidence of AST >3X ULN was 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.5%; and the incidence of alkaline phosphatase >1.5X ULN was 2.5%, 4.1%, and 4.0% in patients treated with placebo and BRINSUPRI 10 mg and 25 mg, respectively.
In ASPEN, the incidence of skin cancers among patients treated with BRINSUPRI 10 mg and 25 mg was 0.5% and 1.9%, respectively, compared to 1.1% in placebo-treated patients.
In ASPEN, the incidence of alopecia among patients treated with BRINSUPRI 10 mg and 25 mg was 1.4% and 1.6% respectively, compared to 0.4% in placebo-treated patients.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Pregnancy: There are no clinical data on the use of BRINSUPRI in pregnant women.
Lactation: There is no information regarding the presence of BRINSUPRI and/or its metabolite(s) in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production.
The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for BRINSUPRI and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from BRINSUPRI or from the underlying maternal condition.
Pediatric use: The safety and effectiveness of BRINSUPRI for the treatment of NCFB have been established in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older. Common adverse reactions in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older enrolled in ASPEN were consistent with those in adults. The safety and effectiveness of BRINSUPRI have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 12 years of age.
