[New drugs for severe asthma]

Presse Med. 2016 Nov;45(11):1043-1055. doi: 10.1016/j.lpm.2016.09.012. Epub 2016 Nov 9.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Asthma is a very frequent disease with complex and heterogenous immunological and clinical features. Daily inhaled steroids are the cornerstone of the current therapeutics sometimes associated with long-acting β2-agonist. This controller treatment is effective and allows to control asthma symptoms for the vast majority of the patients. Severe asthma is characterized by a poor level of control of symptoms, with recurrent exacerbations or a chronic airflow limitation despite an optimal management. Severe asthma remains a difficult diagnosis but we have now studies proving the clinical efficacy or promising data about monoclonal antibodies targeting IgE, IL-5, IL-4 or IL-13. Most of these monoclonal antibodies target the Th2 type eosinophilic inflammation without any treatment against non-eosinophilic or Th1 inflammation. Last, it will be essential to assess accurately the cost effectiveness of these expensive treatments, to identify and to qualify the target population for each molecule and to assess its financial impact for the community.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / adverse effects
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / economics
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / adverse effects
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / economics
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / economics
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Asthma / diagnosis
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / economics
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Eosinophilia / diagnosis
  • Eosinophilia / drug therapy
  • Eosinophilia / immunology
  • France
  • Humans
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal