Abstract
Historical treatments for asthma and COPD have primarily focused on addressing the underlying inflammation and bronchoconstriction that result in air flow obstruction symptoms, including shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, and mucus production. However, in the past several years, new research into the underlying pathophysiology of asthma and COPD has led to novel targeted therapies that address the underlying pathways that cause these obstructive disorders. As we have gained a better understanding of underlying disease mechanisms, we have begun to use biomarkers and endotypes to personalize our approach to therapy. Targets for asthma and COPD include immunoglobulin E, interleukin 5, interleukin 4/interleukin 13, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, interleukin 17, tyrosine kinases, and others. The new biologics are generally safe and well tolerated, and are bringing promise and hope of personalized therapy to patients with severe asthma.
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Michael E Wechsler MD MMSc, the Cohen Family Asthma Institute, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206. E-mail: WechslerM{at}NJHealth.org.
Dr Wechsler discloses relationships with AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Regeneron, Sanofi, and Teva.
Dr Wechsler presented a version of this paper at the 56th Respiratory Care Journal Conference, Respiratory Medications for COPD and Adult Asthma: Pharmacologic Actions to Clinical Applications, held June 22-23, 2017 in St Petersburg, Florida.
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