What Biologic Therapies are Available for Allergic Conditions?

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Welcome to the fourth episode of our Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovation podcast series about biologic treatments. This episode explores the history of the eight biologic therapies available for allergic conditions.

This podcast is produced in partnership with The Itch Podcast. Perdita Permaul, MD, joins co-hosts Payel Gupta, MD, and Kortney to explain how each biologic medication works in the immune system and which conditions they are approved to treat.

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.

Eight biologic medications explained

Dr. Permaul takes us through each biologic in the order they were approved, starting with Xolair for asthma in 2003 and ending with the most recent biologic, Ebglyss, approved for atopic dermatitis in September 2024.

We discuss how each medication works and why some biologics are approved for more than one condition. Dr. Permaul also explains the long process of clinical trials and approvals that biologics must go through before they can be used to treat different diseases.

Key takeaways about biologic medications for allergic conditions

In this episode, we explore how biologic medications target different parts of the immune system, how they work, and the conditions they treat.

Some additional takeaways include:

  • The importance of having multiple biologics approved for one condition. Each biologic works differently within the immune system, giving patients more options if one treatment doesn’t work.
  • Why some biologics are approved for multiple conditions. Dr. Permaul explains the lengthy clinical trial process required before biologics are approved for additional conditions.

Biologics discussed in this episode

Omalizumab (Xolair): Allergic asthma, Chronic idiopathic urticaria (hives), Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), Food allergies

Mepolizumab (Nucala): Eosinophilic asthma, CRSwNP, Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA), Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

Reslizumab (Cinqair): Eosinophilic asthma

Benralizumab (Fasenra): Eosinophilic asthma, Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA)

Dupilumab (Dupixent): Asthma, Atopic dermatitis, CRSwNP, Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), Prurigo nodularis (PN)

Tezepelumab (Tezspire): Asthma

Tralokinumab (Adbry, Adtralza): Atopic dermatitis

Lebrikizumab (Ebglyss): Atopic dermatitis 

Timestamps

  • 01:56 – Dr. Permaul introduction
  • 03:13 – What Omalizumab (Xolair) is approved for
  • 04:21 – How Omalizumab (Xolair) works
  • 06:42 – How Mepolizumab (Nucala) works
  • 08:05 – What Mepolizumab (Nucala) is approved for
  • 09:13 – How some biologics get approved for more than one condition
  • 12:27 – Clinical trials for kids
  • 13:48 – How Reslizumab (Cinqair) works, what it treats, and how it’s given
  • 15:39 – How Benralizumab (Fasenra) works
  • 17:26 – What Benralizumab (Fasenra) is approved for
  • 18:02 – How Dupilumab (Dupixent) works and what it  is approved for
  • 20:03 – How Tezepelumab (Tezspire) works and what it is approved for
  • 22:09 – How Tralokinumab (Adbry) works and what it is approved for
  • 22:55 – Why choose a biologic that targets just one part of the immune system?
  • 23:58 – Why having more biologic options is helpful for patients
  • 26:26 – How Lebrikizumab (Ebglyss) works and what it is approved for

Previous 3 episodes in the biologic medication series

Additional resources for allergic condition