Oral CorticoSteroid sparing with biologics in severe asthma: A remark of the Severe Asthma Network in Italy ( SANI ).

According to the data derived from several national and international registries, including SANI (Severe Asthma Network Italy), and considering the strong impact that frequent or regular use of oral corticosteroid has on quality of life (QoL) of severe asthmatics, as well as on the costs for managing corticosteroid-related diseases, oral corticosteroid sparing up to withdrawal should be considered a primary outcome in the management of severe asthma. New biologics have clearly demonstrated that this effect is possible, with concomitant reduction in the rate of exacerbations and in symptom control. Then, there is no reason for using so frequently oral corticosteroid before having explored all alternatives currently available for a large part of severe asthmatics.
Competing Interests: GW Canonica received in the last three years research grants as well as lecture or advisory board fees from: A. Menarini, Alk-Abello, Allergy Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Chiesi Farmaceutici, Genentech, Guidotti-Malesci, Glaxo Smith Kline, Hal Allergy, Mylan, Merck, Mundipharma, Novartis, Regeneron, Sanofi-Aventis, Sanofi-Genzyme, StallergenesGreer, UCB pharma, Uriach Pharma, Valeas, ViborPharma. F Blasi received grants and/or personal fees from: AstraZeneca, Bayer, Chiesi, Guidotti, Glaxo Smith Kline, Grifols, Insmed, Menarini, Mundifarma, Novartis, Pfizer, Zambon. PL Paggiaro received grants and/or personal fees from AstraZeneca, Chiesi, GlaxoSmithKline, Guidotti, Mundipharma, Novartis, Sanofi. S Aliberti received grants and/or personal fees from Actavis UK Ltd, Aradigm Corporation, AstraZeneca, Basilea, Bayer Healthcare, Chiesi, Grifols, Horizon, INSMED, Novartis, Raptor, Zambon. L Cosmi received personal fees from Glaxo Smith Kline and Novartis. S Centanni received grants and/or personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boheringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Glaxo Smith Kline, Guidotti, Menarini, Novartis, Valeas. ME Conte received personal fees from Glaxo Smith Kline. S D’Alò received fees for clinical trials from Glaxo Smith Kline. S Del Giacco received grants and/or personal fees from AstraZeneca, Chiesi, Glaxo Smith Kline, Menarini. Novartis. F Puggioni received personal fees from Allergy therapeutics, Almirall, AstraZeneca, Chiesi, Glaxo Smith Kline, Guidotti, Menarini, Mundipharma, Novartis, Sanofi, Valeas. FLM Ricciardolo received grants, personal fees and/or other supports from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Glaxo Smith Kline, Guidotti, Lusofarmaco, Menarini, Neopharmed, Novartis, Sanofi, Teva. L Richeldi received personal fees from Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, FibroGen, Promedior, RespiVant, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis. P Santus received grants and/or personal fees from ALK Abellò, AstraZeneca, Berlin Chemie, Boheringer Ingheleim, Menarini International, Novartis, Sanofi, Valeas, Zambon. E Heffler received personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boheringer Ingheleim, Circassia, Glaxo Smith Kline, Nestlè Purina, Novartis, Sanofi, Teva, Valeas. GE Senna, G Passalacqua, A Spanevello, D Bagnasco, M Bonavia, M Bonini, L Brussino, C Bucca, MF Caiaffa, C Calabresi, G Camiciottoli, M Caminati, GE Carpagnano, C Caruso, AG Corsico, MT Costantino, N Crimi, M D'Amato, A Farsi, E Favero, MP Foschino Barbato, G Guarneri, G Guida, M Latorre, S Lo Cicero, C Lombardi, L Macchia, F Mazza, F Menzella, M Milanese, M Montagni, P Montuschi, E Nucera, R Parente, V Patella, G Pelaia, L Pini, L Ricciardi, E Ridolo, G Rolla, N Scichilone, G Spadaro, A Vianello, V Viviano, MR Yacoub, MC Zappa have nothing to disclose.
(© 2020 The Authors.)