Welcome to the third episode of our Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovation podcast series about biologic treatments. This episode explains everything you need to know about planning for and starting biologic therapy for conditions like asthma, allergies and eczema.
This podcast is as always produced in partnership with The Itch Podcast. In this episode, our hosts Payel Gupta, MD, and Kortney talk with board-certified allergist William Anderson, MD, about how to start biologic therapy. Dr. Anderson offers important tips on working with your insurance company and using specialty pharmacies to make the process easier.
You can learn more about the podcast and hosts on ItchPodcast.com. The podcast can be downloaded on all major platforms for listening anytime, anywhere:
Special thanks to Sanofi-Regeneron for sponsoring this episode.
All opinions on the show represent the views of the podcasters and the guest. Sponsorship does not influence content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.
Starting Biologic Therapy
When regular treatments don’t fully control asthma, allergies or eczema, doctors may suggest biologic medications. These medicines target the causes of inflammation.
In this podcast, you’ll hear from Dr. Anderson on what steps to take when you decide biologic therapy. He explains what to do before starting biologic therapy. Dr. Anderson also talks about getting insurance coverage, working with specialty pharmacies, handling co-pays and storing and taking your medicine.
And you’ll hear about why it’s important to follow your treatment plan while taking biologics.
Key Takeaways about Preparing for Biologic Therapy
- Insurance and approval process: Getting biologics covered can take time. You may need prior authorization and possibly an appeal before approval.
- Role of specialty pharmacies: Biologics are often handled by specialty pharmacies. They ship the medicine and help manage its storage and delivery.
- Proper storage and administration: Dr. Anderson explains how to keep biologics at the right temperature and stick to the dosing schedule. We also cover how biologics are administered, whether through self-injection at home or a clinic.
- Financial assistance options: If co-pays are too high, there are manufacturer programs and resources that can help with costs.
Timestamps
01:50 – How patients can learn about biologics
03:18 – Navigating insurance for biologics
05:50 – Understanding prior authorization
10:50 – Making decisions based on the cost of biologics
13:52 – The role of specialty pharmacies
15:19 – Refilling biologic medications
16:53 – Understanding copays
18:44 – How biologics are given and how often
20:22 – Ways biologics are delivered: auto-injector or pre-filled syringe
21:22 – Why a loading dose is important
23:03 – Storing biologic medications correctly
26:11 – What to do if you miss a dose
27:32 – Taking your biologic early
28:26 – Vaccines while on biologics
32:42 – How often to see your doctor during biologic therapy
Previous 2 episodes in the biologic medication series
Additional biologic medication resources
- Biologic Medications Overview
- Understanding Asthma
- Allergies Explained
- Managing Food Allergies
- Understanding Eczema
- What if I Can’t Afford My Eczema Medication?
- What if I Can’t Afford My Asthma Medication?
10304 Eaton Place, Suite 100