Abstract
The current treatment of moderate to severe persistent asthma is based in particular on inhaled corticosteroids combined with long-acting bronchodilators and leukotriene antagonists. However, some phenotypes of asthma are not controlled even when combined antiasthmatic therapy.
In the last two decades, studies have been developed with the use of biological treatments with selective approaches to allergic and eosinophilic airway inflammation. Currently, the treatment of interleukine 5 antibodies is registered in the European Union - it is the monoclonal antibodies mepolizumab and reslizumab, benralzumab is in the last phase of clinical trials.
Patients with uncontrolled severe asthma should receive combinations of high-dose fixed inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonists with targeted biologic therapy according to the phenotype and pathophysiological endotype prior to administration of systemic corticosteroids. Mepolizumab has been authorized within the European Union since 2015 and is indicated for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthmatics refractory to treatment.