Biologics for the Management of Severe Asthma
If you have asthma, you are most likely familiar with its traditional treatment options, including long-term corticosteroid medications to help prevent asthma attacks and quick-relief inhalers for treating sudden symptoms.
These treatments work well for most patients with mild to moderate asthma; however, these medications are not enough to effectively manage the disease for 3 to 13% of all asthma patients who live with severe asthma.
To address this problem, scientists developed a new group of prescription medications known as biologics or biologics for the management of severe asthma.
What Are Biologics?
Before we get to know biologics for the management of severe asthma, let’s define biologics. Biologic prescription drugs are genetically engineered proteins made from living plants, animals, or cells instead of chemical processes.
The biologic medications used to treat asthma today are all antibodies, a kind of blood protein that our immune system produces to counteract antigens.
Scientists have successfully tailored these biologic antibodies to help control specific aspects of the disease, like lung inflammation that leads to asthma attacks.
Why Are Biologics Needed to Treat Asthma?
Asthma treatments involve two categories of medications, controller drugs and rapid-relief medications.
Biologics fall under the controller category because they help the body gain long-term control of asthma symptoms and reduce the risk of an asthma attack. However, if your doctor prescribes a biologic for you, it will not replace your current controller medications. Biologics are meant to be a co-adjuvant in your disease management strategy.
Benefits of Biologics
Asthma biologic therapies effectively treat severe asthma in patients with type 2 inflammation who do not have adequate relief from other controller medications.
Because biologics target the underlying molecular causes of asthma rather than simply treating its symptoms, these therapies provide a range of benefits, such as:
- Reduce the symptoms of asthma
- Improve lung function
- Reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks resulting in fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations
- Reduce the need for oral corticosteroids and other controller medications
- Improve the overall quality of life for patients
How are Biologic Therapies for Asthma Administered?
The administration of asthma biologic medications is either a subcutaneous injection or an intravenous infusion.
If your doctor has an infusion suite within their practice, you can receive your treatment there with the advantage of being in a more familiar setting and more personalized care.
The frequency of your therapy can vary depending on which biologic your doctor prescribes, but it’s usually every 2-4 weeks, although in some cases, your treatment sessions can be up to 8 weeks apart.
Common Biologic Side Effects
Biologics are considered very safe, and in general, can have fewer adverse effects than other controller medications. However, as with all medications, there are some potential risks.
The most severe side effect is anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include difficulty breathing, feeling faint or dizzy, swelling, and itching.
Allergic reactions usually occur within minutes after the injection, but symptoms can start hours or days later in some rare cases. Make sure to speak to your doctor about the risks of an allergic reaction, possible signs to look for, and what to do if it happens.
Other milder side effects include:
- Headache
- Pain or discomfort, redness, itching, or a burning sensation at the injection site
- Increased risk of infections such as urinary tract infections, colds, and flu
Before you start your biologic therapy, be sure to discuss all possible side effects with your physician and the best way to address them.
Treatment Timeline
Everyone responds differently to treatment, and currently, there are no defined recommendations as to how long you should be on a biologic.
However, doctors typically administer the medication for a minimum of four months to give the therapy a chance to improve your asthma.
Your doctor will work with you and monitor the frequency and severity of your symptoms, and together you can determine how long you need to be on a biologic.
If you have severe asthma and feel your current treatment course does not provide the desired results, speak to your doctor to see if biologic therapy is a good option.
