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Asthma is one of the most common diseases in the United States, affecting approximately 11 out of 100 women. It is a chronic (long-term) condition that causes inflammation of the airways and makes breathing difficult.
Asthma can be controlled with treatment, but if left untreated it could be fatal. In 2023, asthma was linked to more than 3,700 deaths in the United States.
While this condition affects people of all ages, genders and ethnicities, Black Americans are more likely to develop asthma than people of other races and are three times more likely to die from the disease.
The good news? There are many effective treatments for asthma and researchers are constantly working to develop new and better treatments.
Biopharmaceuticals are medications that may be useful for people with asthma to control their disease.
What are biopharmaceuticals?
A biopharmaceutical is a medicine derived from a natural source. These sources include:
- Plant cells
- animal cells
- Microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast
The fact that they are derived from living materials sets them apart from most drugs, which are derived from chemicals.
To create a biopharmaceutical, scientists grow specially developed living cells under very specific conditions, often over several weeks. After the cells are grown, scientists remove a protein from the cells, which is purified and turned into a biopharmaceutical.
Like all medications, biopharmaceuticals must be proven safe and effective before they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In addition to treating asthma, biopharmaceuticals can be used to help people with the following conditions:
- arthritis
- Breast, lung and colon cancer
- Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other chronic intestinal diseases
- diabetes
- multiple sclerosis
- Psoriasis and other chronic skin diseases
How does asthma treatment with biopharmaceuticals work?
Many people with asthma use inhalers or tablets to treat their symptoms. So how does an injectable or intravenous medication work to treat a respiratory problem?
Asthma biopharmaceuticals deactivate molecules that cause your airways to swell when exposed to certain triggers.
When a person with asthma is exposed to their personal triggers, immune system molecules work together to cause airway inflammation.
Biopharmaceuticals bind to these molecules, preventing them from causing the inflammation that causes asthma symptoms.
Who can take biopharmaceuticals for asthma?
If you have moderate or severe asthma that cannot be controlled despite routine asthma treatments such as inhalers and tablets, incorporating biologics into your treatment plan may help to better control your disease.
Biopharmaceuticals may be an option for you if:
- You have asthma symptoms more than twice a week
- You wake up at night with asthma symptoms more than twice a month
- You need your rescue inhaler more than twice a week
- You take oral corticosteroids more than once a year to treat your symptoms
- Asthma symptoms prevent you from participating in normal activities
As of March 2026, seven biopharmaceuticals have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of asthma. Your doctor may prescribe one for you after assessing your symptoms and current treatment plan.
What to Expect When Taking Biopharmaceuticals?
Asthma biopharmaceuticals are administered by injection or intravenously. Depending on the biopharmaceutical prescribed by your doctor, you may be able to administer this medication at home.
The frequency of biopharmaceutical administration depends on the specific biomedication your doctor prescribes. Some are administered every two weeks, others every four to eight weeks.
Your healthcare team will discuss possible side effects and what to consider when using a biopharmaceutical for asthma. They can also answer all your questions.
The benefits and risks of biopharmaceuticals
It might be scary if you’re already taking traditional asthma medications but are still having flare-ups and other symptoms. Biopharmaceuticals could help.
When added to your current treatment plan, biopharmaceuticals could help relieve asthma symptoms in ways that traditional medications cannot. And you don’t have to worry about taking them every day for them to work.
The FDA wouldn’t approve biopharmaceuticals for asthma if they were unsafe, but like all drugs, they could have side effects. Some are:
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Rashes
- Sore throat
- fatigue
Your doctor can give you more information about the possible side effects of the specific biopharmaceutical you want to use.
Is there insurance cover?
Because coverage varies by plan, you’ll need to contact your insurer to find out if biopharmaceuticals to treat your asthma are covered. Many plans cover at least some of the costs.
Your insurer may consider biopharmaceuticals a “specialized treatment,” meaning you may need to take certain steps to receive them.
For example, your doctor may need to obtain prior authorization (sometimes called “prior authorization”) from your insurer before paying for a biologic drug. Or you may need to fill your prescription at a specialty pharmacy that specializes in this type of medication.
For cost and coverage information, visit the website of the company that produces your biopharmaceutical. Some companies also offer patient assistance programs to help cover the cost of your medications.
Take control of your treatment
Don’t let uncontrolled asthma stop you from living your life to the fullest. Thanks to innovative medicines like biopharmaceuticals, you can feel better.
This educational resource was created with support from GSK, Sanofi and Regeneron.
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