Korean J Med.  2011 Feb;80(2):139-144.

New Therapeutic Modalities for Asthma: Biologicals from a Practical Point of View

• Chang YS

Abstract

Asthma is a representative allergic disease of chronic airway inflammation. Dyspnea, wheezing, cough, and chest tightness are typical symptoms. Treatment consists of inhaled corticosteroid, beta2 agonist, leukotriene modifiers, and xanthines such as theophylline. Clinical practice guidelines for asthma have been developed since early 1990s. However, there are still many uncontrolled asthma patients with severe refractory symptoms, frequent exacerbations and even mortality. These patients cause high socioeconomic burden but the management of these patients are not well covered by clinical practice guidelines. High-dose steroid, methotrexate, cyclosporine, gold, IVIG, and macrolides have been suggested as therapeutic modalities for refractory asthma but with limited treatment effect and side effects. It is necessary to develop new therapeutic modalities for asthma. Biologicals, or biologics, are a variety of protein-based therapeutics, e.g. antibodies, soluble receptors, recombinant protein-based receptor antagonists and other related structures. New biologicals for the treatment of asthma are being developed. Here I will focus on three biologicals from a practical point of view: a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody (omalizumab), anti-IL5, and TNF-alpha antagonist.

Keyword

Asthma; Biologicals; Anti-IgE; Anti-IL5; TNF-alpha antagonist

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
Asthma
Biological Agents
Cough
Cyclosporine
Dyspnea
Humans
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
Inflammation
Macrolides
Methotrexate
Respiratory Sounds
Theophylline
Thorax
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Xanthines
Antibodies
Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
Biological Agents
Cyclosporine
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
Macrolides
Methotrexate
Theophylline
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Xanthines