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Here in the Tampa Bay area, our year-round allergens and humid climate can make asthma especially tough to manage. While many people find relief with traditional medications like inhalers or oral steroids, others face a more difficult journey with severe asthma that doesn’t respond as well to standard treatments.
When your current medications aren’t enough, it may be time to explore advanced treatment options like biologics. This is a breakthrough therapy designed to target the root causes of severe asthma, offering relief for patients who haven’t had success with other approaches.
Curious about how this works? Reach out to us at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Care, where we not only provide biologics for severe asthma treatment, but we also take the time to explain how they work, so you can stay safe, breathe easier, and live with more confidence.
Start Your Journey to Better Asthma Control
If you’ve never heard of asthma biologics before, these are laboratory-created therapies designed to target very specific parts of your immune system that drive severe asthma.
Instead of broadly suppressing inflammation throughout your body, they zero in on particular proteins or cells that are causing your specific type of asthma to flare up, such as:
IgE – the antibody involved in allergic reactions.
IL-5 – a protein that causes the body to produce more eosinophils (inflammation-causing cells).
IL-4 and IL-13 – the key drivers of airway swelling and mucus production.
Biologics are also FDA-approved. Currently, there are six approved treatments, each targeting
different aspects of the immune response. These include:
| Xolair (omalizumab) | Targets IgE, making it effective for allergic asthma |
|---|---|
| Nucala (mepolizumab), Fasenra (benralizumab), Cinqair (reslizumab) | All target IL-5 or its receptor, helping patients with eosinophilic asthma |
| Dupixent (dupilumab) | Blocks IL-4 and IL-13, reducing airway inflammation and mucus, also for eosinophilic or steroid-dependent asthma |
| Tezspire (tezepelumab) | Blocks TSLP (thymic stromal lymphopoietin), a more upstream inflammatory trigger, making it effective across a broader range of severe asthma types. |
By turning down these specific “switches,” biologics can help reduce airway inflammation, prevent flare-ups, and make breathing easier.
Not every person with asthma needs biologics. These treatments are reserved for patients with severe asthma, the kind that doesn’t improve with standard inhalers or daily medications. If any of the situations below sound familiar, you may be a candidate:
Because asthma looks different in every patient, it takes an allergy and asthma specialist to confirm whether biologics are right for you. Through a detailed medical history, lung function tests, and sometimes bloodwork, your doctor can match you with the best possible treatment plan.
When biologics work for the right patient, the outcome can be remarkable. For many, this offers several important benefits, such as:
Fewer Flare-Ups and ER Visits
Clinical studies have shown that biologics can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks. That means fewer nights spent in the emergency room and more days feeling in control.
Reduced Dependence on Steroids
Long-term oral steroid use can lead to serious side effects like weight gain, brittle bones, and even diabetes. Biologics often allow patients to lower their steroid dose by 75% or stop taking them altogether, without sacrificing asthma control.
Better Lung Function
Many patients see measurable improvements in their breathing tests after starting biologics. More importantly, they feel the difference in everyday activities, whether it’s climbing stairs, exercising, or simply sleeping through the night without wheezing.
Tailored to Your Asthma Type
Unlike generic treatments, biologics are chosen based on your test results (like eosinophil levels or IgE antibodies). This personalized approach means the therapy is working with your body, not against it.
When combined, they can restore and improve your quality of life, allowing you to feel a sense of normalcy and confidence in your daily life.
Like any medical treatment, biologics aren’t without their risks. While most patients tolerate them well, it’s important to be aware of the possible downsides:
Mild Side Effects
Some patients report injection site reactions like redness, swelling, or soreness. These are usually temporary and go away on their own.
Allergic Reactions
Though rare, biologics can trigger allergic responses. That’s why these treatments are given under medical supervision, especially at the start.
Ongoing Commitment
Biologics are not a one-time cure, but many insurance plans cover them when severe asthma criteria are met. Alternatively, patient assistance programs are available.
Serious reactions to the treatment are very uncommon, especially when a specialist monitors treatment.
But don’t feel pressured to choose this option. It’s always best to be made together with your allergy and asthma specialist.
Biologics follow a simple routine. The usual process would look like this:
Biologics are one of the most exciting advances in asthma treatment, but they aren’t meant for everyone, and they usually work best as an add-on therapy for specific patients.
That’s why the first step is always to consult with a board-certified allergy and asthma specialist who can evaluate your symptoms, run tests, and guide you toward the right asthma treatment option that fits your needs.
If you’re in the Tampa Bay area, let
Advanced Allergy & Asthma Care
help you breathe easier with personalized solutions. Together with our experts, we can assess whether a
biologic asthma treatment is the next step for you so that we can provide you with the safest and most effective care possible.
Relief is always possible when you have us by your side. Schedule a consultation with us today, and let’s explore the options so you can regain control of your breathing and improve your quality of life.
Let’s Create a Treatment Plan That Works for You
Allergy shots gradually train your immune system to be less reactive to allergens. Biologics, on the other hand, target specific immune pathways to reduce asthma inflammation right away.
Yes, some biologics are approved for children as young as 6 years old. Your specialist can determine if your child is a candidate.
Treatment is ongoing. Most patients continue biologics as long as they’re providing benefits, though your doctor will reassess regularly.
Some biologics are also approved for conditions like eczema, nasal polyps, or chronic hives. If you have one of these alongside asthma, your doctor may consider a biologic that addresses both.
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