Xolair has been shown to be effective in some people with severe allergic asthma, a certain increased level of IgE, and who cannot get their asthma under control with inhaled corticosteroids. Since not all people with asthma have allergies and an increased level of IgE, this treatment will not work for everyone.
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Future asthma medications and asthma therapies
A lot of the future advancements in asthma therapies will be targeted at controlling the inflammation that occurs in the airways of those with asthma. There are many chemical reactions that take place in your body that lead to this inflammation. These reactions involve cells, cell receptors, enzymes, proteins, antibodies, etc. Targeting these reactions is the primary strategy for controlling this inflammation.
Although it takes many years of research before a new medication becomes available to the public, there are several asthma treatments being researched. Some advancements will be new medications, but many will also be new improvements to currently available medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids, anti-leukotrienes, or anti-IgE drugs.
One area of research is targeted at finding the right size of particle that the inhaled corticosteroid should be, and how to get it to the right place in your lungs. Other advancements are in the form of expanding the age range for which a medication is approved, through further research. Combining medications is another method of improving the way asthma is treated, by making it more convenient to take. Gene therapy is a unique area of research that could lead to asthma treatments.
Bronchial thermoplasty: A unique asthma therapy called bronchial thermoplasty is currently being investigated and showing some positive results. The airways in the lungs have what’s called “smooth muscle” surrounding them. When someone has asthma, these muscles may contract (tighten) too much, and may be too large. This causes the opening of the airways to be too narrow.
Bronchial thermoplasty involves inserting a tube with a camera into the airways of the lungs. This tube then emits radio frequency energy that heats up the area, causing a reduction in the amount of muscle that surrounds the airways, with the goal of keeping the airways more open so that you can breathe easier.
The Canadian-led research out of Hamilton, Ontario has produced some promising results. As with any new treatment, it takes time to ensure it is safe and effective. Hopefully in the next few years it will be approved as an asthma treatment. It will likely be most useful for people who cannot get their severe asthma under control with the current medications, and are having a lot of asthma attacks as a result.
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Look to the future but also in the present
It is important to continue researching for better ways of managing asthma, perhaps even to eventually find a cure for asthma. The Lung Association continually funds asthma research to better understand and manage this disease. Although we must look forward in our quest to help those with asthma, it is also important to realize what we have right now, today.
With currently available asthma medications, the vast majority of people can get their asthma under good control so that they can lead full and active lives. Medications available today are generally very effective and safe. There is always room for improvement though, which is why we continue our search for better asthma treatments. With about 300,000 people worldwide with asthma and 250,000 dying from asthma each year, we see that there is still lots of room for advancements.
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