Biological therapy of severe bronchial asthma

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is a major public health problem in the world. A considerable proportion of patients suffer from severe asthma, which is manifested by a decrease in the quality of life, an increase in the frequency of exacerbations, hospitalisations, and mortality. The ineffectiveness of conventional therapy in such patients contributes to the development of biological treatment methods with higher specificity, aimed at the pathogenetic links of the disease. The purpose of the study was to analyse the effectiveness of the treatment of severe bronchial asthma with monoclonal antibodies based on literature data. The study examines publications over the past 5 years that are available on the Internet. The following terms were used for the search: monoclonal antibodies, endotype, phenotype. Five monoclonal antibody biological agents targeting IgE, IL-5, IL-4, and IL-13, which are approved for use in patients with severe asthma, were analysed: omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, and dupilumab. The use of these medications has led to progress in the treatment of bronchial asthma. It was found that determining disease endotypes based on the assessment of biomarkers such as eosinophil count in blood and sputum, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, and serum periostin contributes to the greater effectiveness of biological therapy. It was investigated that monoclonal antibody treatment improves lung function, reduces exacerbation frequency, and decreases the need for additional medications. Many other biological agents, particularly those targeting key cytokines, are in the clinical development stage. Approved monoclonal antibodies targeting IgE, IL-5, and IL-4/IL13 demonstrate high efficacy in the treatment of severe bronchial asthma. The use of these agents in patients with severe asthma and high Th2 levels considerably improves lung function, symptom control, and reduces the frequency of disease exacerbations

Keywords

• biological agents
• monoclonal antibodies
• endotype
• phenotype
• biomarkers