Asthma: pathogenesis and novel drugs for treatment
BMJ 2014; 349 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g5517 (Published 24 November 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;349:g5517- 1Pediatric Exercise Tolerance Center, Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA
- 2Asthma Program, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
- Correspondence to: M E Wechsler wechslerm{at}njhealth.org
Abstract
Asthma affects almost 20 million people in the United States and more than 300 million people worldwide. Of these, 10-15% have severe asthma, which is refractory to commonly available drugs. New drugs are needed because those that are currently available cannot control symptoms and exacerbations in all patients and can cause adverse reactions. In the past 10 years, there have been substantial advances in the understanding of asthma genetics, airway biology, and immune cell signaling. These advances have led to the development of small molecule therapeutics and biologic agents that may improve asthma care in the future. Several new classes of asthma drugs—including ultra long acting β agonists and modulators of the interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-13, and IL-17 pathways—have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials. Other new drug classes—including dissociated corticosteroids, CXC chemokine receptor 2 antagonists, toll-like receptor 9 agonists, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors—remain in earlier phases of development. Despite some preliminary efficacy data, there is insufficient evidence to make strong recommendations about the use of these newer agents. Future research on the clinical efficacy of these biologic agents, the effect of newer agents on severe asthma in pediatric patients, and the biology of non-eosinophilic and corticosteroid resistant asthma is needed to reduce the morbidity of asthma worldwide.
Footnotes
Contributors: Both authors substantially contributed to the design of the work and drafting of the manuscript. JTO created the first version of the manuscript. Both authors approved the final version of this manuscript and agree to act as guarantors.
Competing interests: We have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare the following interests: JTO has no financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; MEW has received consulting honorariums from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Merck, Boston Scientific, NKT therapeutics, Teva, Regeneron, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Cytos.
Provenance and peer review: Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £173 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£38 / $45 / €42 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.