Allergen Immunotherapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Asthma

Clin Exp Allergy. 2024 Oct 4. doi: 10.1111/cea.14575. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Allergic asthma is the predominant phenotype among asthmatics. Although conventional pharmacotherapy is a central component in the management of asthma, it does not enable control of asthma symptoms in all patients. In recent decades, some uncontrolled asthmatic patients, especially those with allergic asthma, have benefited from biological therapies. However, biologics do not address all the unmet needs left by conventional pharmacotherapy. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that neither conventional pharmacotherapy nor biological therapies have disease-modifying properties. In this context, allergen immunotherapy (AIT) represents an indispensable component of the therapeutic arsenal against allergic asthma, due to its disease-modifying immunological effects. In this review article, funded by an AIT manufacturer, we find clinical trials support AIT as the only treatment option able both to improve allergic asthma symptoms and to prevent the onset and worsening of the condition. For patients with severe asthma or other safety concerns, the combination of AIT and biologics offers very promising new treatment modalities for the management of allergic asthma. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT06027073.

Keywords: allergen immunotherapy; allergic asthma; biologics; combined therapy; disease‐modifying; prevention; treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT06027073

Grants and funding