title: Novel monoclonal treatments in severe asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a general overview of the current biological treatments and discuss their potential anti-asthmatic effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed articles in PubMed found using the search words "Asthma/therapy AND antibodies, monoclonal/therapeutic use AND cytokines."
  
  
  METHODS
  Only articles published in English since 2000 were considered. The search identified 29 studies; 8 additional studies were found by hand search, generating 37 studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 37 studies investigating biological treatments of asthma, 5 were on the effects of anti-IgE (omalizumab); 12 on anti-IL-5; 8 on anti-IL-13; 5 on anti-IL-4R-α; 3 on anti-IL-9; one on TNF-α; one on anti-IL-2R-α; one on TSLP (Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin); and one on OX40L. Sample sizes ranged from 3 to 943 participants. Studies of therapies targeting IgE, IL-2, IL4R-α, IL-5, and IL-13 showed some efficacy, whereas those targeting TSLP, IL-9, and TNF-α lacked convincing effectiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research on the biological treatment of asthma shows promising results. While anti-IgE (omalizumab) has been used in the treatment of asthma for some years, anti-IL-5 has recently been approved for use. The efficacy of results of other large studies with a longer duration is needed to draw a firm conclusion. Such studies should not only focus on clinical outcomes, but also consider asthma-related quality of life. Knowledge on the asthma phenotypes and identification of biomarkers associated with these will be useful for physicians considering the right treatment for the asthma patient.
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Research Unit , Bispebjerg University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Howraman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meteran
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Research Unit , Bispebjerg University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Hanieh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meteran
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Research Unit , Bispebjerg University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Celeste
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porsbjerg
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Research Unit , Bispebjerg University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Backer
mesh_terms: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000187:drug effects; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000069444:Omalizumab / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016207:Cytokines; C504000:IL4R protein, human; D018793:Interleukin-13; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit; D015848:Interleukin-5; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069444:Omalizumab; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Asthma; monoclonal; review; treatment