University Hospitals Enrolls First Pediatric Patient in International Research Study

Princess Ogbogu, MD

CLEVELAND, Ohio - University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center / University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital is proud to announce its participation in a landmark international study evaluating the safety and efficacy of benralizumab in children with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). The UH Cleveland Medical Center / UH Rainbow location is one of only two study sites in the United States.

HES is a rare disorder characterized by a persistently elevated blood eosinophil count - a type of white blood cell - that causes progressive organ damage. The condition can affect multiple organ systems, most commonly the skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract, and can become life-threatening when it involves the heart or neurological system. HES is exceptionally rare in children, with fewer than 300 documented pediatric cases worldwide, and there are currently no approved treatments for children under the age of 12.

Benralizumab (brand name Fasenra) has a unique mechanism of action that directly targets receptors on eosinophils, enabling the immune system to remove them to provide near complete depletion of eosinophils. It is approved in the US for HES in patients ages 12 and older - but no approved treatment yet exists for children under 12. This study enrolls patients ages 6 to 17, with the goal of addressing that critical gap.

"We are proud to be one of only a few sites in the world hosting this important research study, offering hope to patients and families affected by this rare disorder," said Princess Ogbogu, MD, Division Chief of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at UH Rainbow and Professor of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "This is a testament to the expertise and the strength of our clinical trials program here at University Hospitals."

Dr. Ogbogu is a nationally recognized leader in allergy and immunology. She serves as a director on the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, is a member of the ACGME Review Committee for Allergy/Immunology and has held leadership roles in multiple national committees within the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Her clinical and research focus includes eosinophilic disorders and health disparities.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ogbogu has received numerous honors and awards, including recognition on the Top Doctors lists by Cleveland Magazine and Columbus Monthly, the Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine award, and The Ohio State University Courage to Teach award. She has also been honored as a University Hospitals Distinguished Physician, is an alumna of the prestigious Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) fellowship and was selected as a University Hospitals Anton Physician Leadership Fellow.

This research study is funded by AstraZeneca.