Definition
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by recurrent wheezing, coughing, and breathlessness, which occur in acute events known as exacerbations. Often triggered by factors such as exercise, allergen or irritant exposure, change in weather, or viral respiratory infections, these flare-ups can vary significantly in frequency and severity. Attacks consist of swelling of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which narrows airways and results in a reduction of airflow into and out of the lungs. Historically considered to be a single disease, asthma is now viewed more as an overlapping assemblage of individual phenotypes with various underlying pathophysiological processes leading to symptoms.
Latest Key Takeaways
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by recurrent wheezing, coughing, and breathlessness, which occur in acute events known as exacerbations. Often triggered by factors such as exercise, allergen or irritant exposure, change in weather, or viral respiratory infections, these flare-ups can vary significantly in frequency and severity. Attacks consist of swelling of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which narrows airways and results in a reduction of airflow into and out of the lungs. Historically considered to be a single disease, asthma is now viewed more as an overlapping assemblage of individual phenotypes with various underlying pathophysiological processes leading to symptoms.
Latest Key Takeaways
- The publisher estimates that in 2018, there were approximately 343.6 million prevalent cases of asthma in individuals aged up to 44 years worldwide, and forecasts that number to increase to 363.7 million prevalent cases by 2027.
- The GINA treatment strategy released in 2019 included an important change disrupting a fundamental practice in mild asthma management. Treatment with a short-acting beta 2 agonist (SABA) alone is no longer recommended for adults and adolescents with asthma. While short-acting bronchodilators may provide symptom relief for patients, they remain at risk for severe exacerbations. In late 2020, a similar, but still distinct update was made to the NAEPP guidelines.
- The majority of approved drugs in the asthma space are inhaled small molecules, while several newer approvals show a shift towards the development of injectable biologics.
- Since its launch as the first fixed-dose combination (FDC) of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a long-acting beta 2 agonist (LABA), GlaxoSmithKline’s Advair has become a well-established gold-standard therapy in asthma. However, generic competition in Europe, and more recently in the US, marks the end of this successful history.
- Novartis has ended development of its asthma drug fevipiprant following data which showed that the once-daily pill was not effective.
- The convenience of pipeline ICS/LABA/long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) triple FDC therapies will only marginally increase the overall use of the LAMA drug class as physicians remain skeptical about the role of LAMAs in asthma.
- Key upcoming catalysts in asthma include topline results from Phase III studies for SABA/ICS combination PT027.
Table of Contents
OVERVIEW
DISEASE BACKGROUND
TREATMENT
EPIDEMIOLOGY
KEY REGULATORY EVENTS
LICENSING AND ASSET ACQUISITION DEALS
CLINICAL TRIAL LANDSCAPE
FUTURE TRENDS
RECENT EVENTS AND ANALYST OPINION
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES