title: EAACI IG Biologicals task force paper on the use of biologic agents in allergic disorders.
abstract: Biologic agents (also termed biologicals or biologics) are therapeutics that are synthesized by living organisms and directed against a specific determinant, for example, a cytokine or receptor. In inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, biologicals have revolutionized the treatment of several immune-mediated disorders. Biologicals have also been tested in allergic disorders. These include agents targeting IgE; T helper 2 (Th2)-type and Th2-promoting cytokines, including interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-9, IL-13, IL-31, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP); pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-12, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-23, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF); chemokine receptor CCR4; and lymphocyte surface and adhesion molecules, including CD2, CD11a, CD20, CD25, CD52, and OX40 ligand. In this task force paper of the Interest Group on Biologicals of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, we review biologicals that are currently available or tested for the use in various allergic and urticarial pathologies, by providing an overview on their state of development, area of use, adverse events, and future research directions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boyman
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaegi
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Davos, Switzerland.|Christine Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akdis
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Pulmonary Disease, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bavbek
authors.affiliation: Krefting Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine and Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bossios
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit 'D. Kalogeromitros', 2nd Department of Dermatology and Venereology, 'Attikon' University Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzipetrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eiwegger
authors.affiliation: Unit of Internal Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Sciences 'M. Aresu', University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Firinu
authors.affiliation: Service d'Immunologie et d'Allergologie, Spécialités de Médecine, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harr
authors.affiliation: Departments of Immunology and Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Knol
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Palomares
authors.affiliation: Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Weber
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H-U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Spitalnetz Bern Tiefenau Ziegler, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: U C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vultaggio
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Davos, Switzerland.|Christine Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Akdis
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spertini
mesh_terms: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D001685:Biological Factors
keywords: allergic rhinitis; asthma; atopic dermatitis; eosinophilic disorders; food allergy; hymenoptera allergy; urticaria