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New Asthma Drug Slashes Steroid Use
2 Jun
Summary
- New drug Tezspire significantly reduces steroid dependence for asthma patients.
- Nearly 70% of patients on Tezspire halved their steroid pills.
- Tezspire blocks a key inflammation-triggering chemical, TSLP.
A recently approved asthma drug, tezepelumab (Tezspire), is offering substantial relief for individuals managing severe asthma. Clinical trial results indicate that patients using Tezspire achieved significantly greater reductions in their daily steroid intake while effectively maintaining asthma control, compared to those receiving a placebo.
This groundbreaking medication works by targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a chemical that triggers inflammation. By blocking TSLP, tezepelumab helps prevent asthma attacks stemming from various triggers. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved tezepelumab in 2021 for the maintenance treatment of severe asthma.
In a recent study, 122 individuals taking steroids for their asthma participated. Of these, 69% of patients on tezepelumab successfully reduced their steroid pill dose by at least half over a 28-week period. Furthermore, 35% were able to discontinue steroids entirely, a milestone achieved by only 21% in the placebo group.
