What the trial was testing
The SWIFT enrolled 397 patients with asthma. The study was sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Depemokimab reduced asthma flare-ups by about half when given just twice a year.
The New England journal of medicine · 2024 · NCT04718103
These findings — that patients had about half as many asthma attacks with depemokimab versus standard care — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 397 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with asthma, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Depemokimab is not yet FDA-approved. This was a large-scale study showing promising results for people with severe asthma who have high eosinophil counts. If you have frequent asthma attacks despite controller medications, ask your doctor about this treatment or other biologic options that may already be available.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open asthma trials
Timely Administration of IV Magnesium Sulfate in Patients With a Moderate Asthma Exacerbation
This study aims to identify whether early administration of magnesium sulfate in moderate asthma exacerbations can potentially avoid admission, decrease length of stay in the emergency department (ED), decrease length of stay (LOS) in the general hospital floor vs pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and decrease the need for respiratory support.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma in Workers at Navanakorn Industrial Zone, Thailand
The goal of this observational study is to determine the prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among workers in an industrial zone in Thailand. The main question the study aims to answer is: What is the prevalence of asthma and COPD among workers in Thailand? Participants will complete a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and undergo pulmonary function testing.