The Rise of Biologics in Respiratory Care
Historically, treatment for asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD centered on treating the underlying inflammation and airway obstruction that produced the most common asthma symptoms, such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, excess mucus production, and cough.
The growing trend of offering personalized medicine has triggered a wave of new research focused on understanding the underlying pathophysiology of illnesses like asthma. Armed with a better understanding of the pathways that cause these obstructive respiratory disorders, scientists began using biomarkers and endotypes to create personalized therapies known as biologics, for patients who do not respond well to traditional courses of treatment.
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Personalizing Asthma Management with Biologic Therapies
Patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma previously had limited treatment options that offered poor results and many unacceptable side effects.
In this respect, biologic therapies provide promising results. The benefits of biologics in treating severe asthma are well known. These therapies can reduce asthma exacerbations, decrease the use of oral corticosteroids, and improve lung function and patients’ quality of life.
Biologics offer patients with severe uncontrolled asthma more targeted treatments that are safe and generally well tolerated.
Furthermore, as research continues and new data becomes available, bioscientists continue to develop biologics designed to target upstream inflammatory mediators. Many of these biologics are already in clinical trials and could be approved shortly, giving patients more comprehensive treatment options.
Making Biologics More Accessible to Patients
Most biologic therapies are intravenous and require a trained medical professional to administer. As a result, the challenge is making biologic therapies accessible to more patients.
Traditionally, treating physicians would refer their patients to a hospital outpatient infusion center for treatment. Unfortunately, this is inconvenient for many patients and can result in a significant financial burden as these centers are expensive. Moreover, the entire experience of regularly having to deal with different medical personnel can be emotionally overwhelming for patients.
Given all these limitations, more and more specialty practices are looking for a convenient, cost-effective solution to provide the treatments their patients need, be able to monitor their outcomes, and increase their compliance.
Such a solution is possible with the help of an in-office infusion management services provider such as Altus Biologic.
