General Information

Cinqair (reslizumab) is an interleukin-5 antagonist monoclonal antibody (IgG4 kappa).

Cinqair is specifically indicated for the add-on maintenance treatment of patients with severe asthma aged 18 years and older with an eosinophilic phenotype.

Cinqair is supplied as a solution for intravenous administration. The recommended dose is 3 mg/kg once every 4 weeks administered by intravenous infusion over 20-50 minutes.

Mechanism of Action

Cinqair (reslizumab) is an interleukin-5 antagonist monoclonal antibody (IgG4 kappa). IL-5 is the major cytokine responsible for the growth and differentiation, recruitment, activation, and survival of eosinophils. By inhibiting IL-5 signaling, reslizumab reduces the production and survival of eosinophils; however, the mechanism of reslizumab action in asthma has not been definitively established. 

Side Effects

Adverse effects associated with the use of Cinqair may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• oropharyngeal pain

Cinqair comes with a black box warning of the potential for anaphylaxis.

Clinical Trial Results

The FDA approval of Cinqair was based on four double-blind, randomized, placebo‑controlled trials in 1,028 adult and adolescent patients with severe asthma on currently available therapies. Cinqair 3 mg/kg or a placebo was administered to patients every four weeks as an add-on asthma treatment. Compared with placebo, patients receiving Cinqair had reductions in asthma exacerbations of up to 59% as well as significant improvement in lung function, symptoms, and asthma-related quality of life.