Biologic targeted therapy in allergic asthma

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous inflammatory disease of the airway, characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, airway obstruction, mucus hyperproduction, and airway-wall remodeling. Management of this disease involves the use of several types of therapeutic agents, each with unique indications based on the underlying cause of inflammation, clinical severity, and patient phenotype and/or endotype. Objective: A review of the function, clinical utility, and safety of biologic agents in the management of allergic asthma. This particular asthma phenotype involves multiple cytokines in its pathogenesis, specifically those secreted by T-helper type 2 cells. Methods: Medical literature was obtained from online biomedical archive searches from July 2018 to May 2019. An emphasis was placed on clinical trials that discussed biologic agents that target immunoglobulin E, interleukin (IL) 5, IL-4/IL-13, and chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTh2) pathways involved in the expression of allergic asthma. Results: The treatment options reviewed in this article were shown to be effective in targeting these pathways associated with allergic asthma. However, because these biologic agents are commonly prescribed in the treatment of severe asthma, many patients continue to experience asthma signs and symptoms. Conclusion: Future clinical trials that study these agents should focus on ideal patient selection, dosing regimens, and cost-effectiveness in the management of asthma. Ideally, comparative trials should be undertaken to assist the clinician in choosing the optimal agent.