Brief Immunology Review for Targeted Biologic Therapies in Allergic Disease

Abstract

This article provides a concise overview of important aspects of immunology related to atopic disorders and the key inflammatory components that biologic agents target. Over 15 years ago, the first biologic agent for an allergic disease gained FDA approval. Since then, additional attention has been given to elucidating the underlying pathways involved in these inflammatory disorders and identifying other potential targets that may be used to treat these conditions. In the last 5 years, not only have new biologic agents emerged to treat other atopic conditions, but also currently available agents have gained additional indications and even more unique biologic agents are in the research pipeline, currently undergoing Phase 2 and 3 trials. These agents provide the potential therapeutic option to treat multiple disorders with a single intervention and thus a familiarity with the immunology of allergic diseases as well as the aspects of the immune system that each biologic agent targets can aid the practitioner in selection of which agent to utilize. The potential to select a biologic agent that targets a particularly inflammatory element and allows the practitioner to provide treatment for more than one atopic disorder is a very exciting prospect, indeed. Knowledge of the inflammatory cascade and, in particular, type 2 inflammation can assist in the selection of which agent or agents to consider using when treating these allergic diseases.