Tezepelumab: a novel biological therapy for the treatment of severe uncontrolled asthma

Giancarlo Marone, Giuseppe Spadaro, Mariantonia Braile, Remo Poto, Gjada Criscuolo, Hadas Pahima, Stefania Loffredo, Francesca Levi-Schaffer, Gilda Varricchi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is overexpressed in the airways of severe asthmatics and is an upstream cytokine that orchestrates inflammatory responses in asthma. TSLP exerts its effects by binding to a high affinity heteromeric receptor complex composed of TSLPR and IL-7Rα. An association of polymorphisms in TSLP with airway hyperresponsiveness, IgE, eosinophilia and asthma has been documented. TSLP has been implicated in asthma pathophysiology. Tezepelumab is a first-in-class human monoclonal antibody that binds to TSLP, thus inhibiting its interaction with TSLP receptor complex. Tezepelumab given as an add-on-therapy to patients with severe uncontrolled asthma has shown safety, tolerability and efficacy. Several trials are evaluating the long-term safety and the efficacy of tezepelumab in adults and adolescents with severe uncontrolled asthma. Areas covered: We provide an overview of the monoclonal antibody therapeutics market for severe uncontrolled asthma, examine the underlying pathophysiology that drives TSLP and discuss the use of tezepelumab for the treatment of severe uncontrolled asthma, Expert opinion: TSLP is a promising target for T2-high and perhaps some patients with T2-low asthma. The results of preliminary clinical trials are encouraging. Several unanswered questions concerning basic pathophysiological aspects of TSLP variants, the long-term safety and efficacy of tezepelumab with different phenotypes/endotypes of asthma should be addressed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)931-940
Number of pages10
JournalExpert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
Volume28
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Nov 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Keywords

  • Asthma
  • T2-high asthma
  • T2-low asthma
  • TSLP
  • biologics
  • inflammation
  • tezepelumab

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