Asthma impacts approximately 25 million individuals across the United States. Although a large number of patients successfully handle their symptoms using inhaled medications, a substantial group still struggles with inadequate control, leaving them vulnerable to serious flare-ups that often result in hospital admissions and a reduced overall quality of life.
For those whose asthma symptoms persist despite conventional treatments, emerging research is paving the way for more precise interventions. These advancements shift the emphasis from merely alleviating immediate symptoms to addressing the root causes of inflammation and the fundamental mechanisms of the disease.
Asthma Amid the Broader Challenge of Lung Health
In America, around 10 million asthma sufferers—equating to about 40% of those affected—encounter at least one severe episode annually. The condition leads to roughly 10.9 million lost workdays each year, underscoring how uncontrolled asthma hampers professional productivity and places strain on the economy.
Moreover, significant inequalities persist: Communities including Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations endure the most elevated rates of asthma-related hospital stays and fatalities. Factors such as poor air quality, limited access to medical services, and broader social determinants of health intensify these issues.
Asthma represents just one facet of the chronic respiratory diseases burdening the nation. Individuals with conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) share common risk elements—including tobacco use, environmental pollutants, and economic disadvantages—that perpetuate these health inequities.
Shifts in the Asthma Maintenance Therapy Arena
The array of maintenance treatments for asthma extends far beyond the classic combination of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), which combat inflammation, and long-acting beta 2-adrenergic agonists (LABA), which help ease airway constriction. Tailored to each patient’s profile and disease severity, additional therapies might include long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA), leukotriene receptor antagonists, theophylline, or biologic agents that specifically target key inflammatory processes.
While ICS/LABA combinations have historically been staples in COPD treatment, the latest guidelines from the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) advise against their use as primary or subsequent options in standard COPD pharmacological protocols.
Ongoing investigations into triple therapy for asthma draw inspiration from its proven benefits in COPD, where it has demonstrated reductions in flare-ups and enhancements in lung capacity among vulnerable groups. These successes suggest that similar strategies could benefit asthma patients not responding adequately to dual therapy regimens.
Even as dual therapy holds its position as a fundamental element of asthma management, its limitations become evident, especially among those prone to frequent exacerbations.
Even with revised recommendations from organizations like the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) on maintenance protocols, a pressing gap exists in preventing severe episodes and transitioning asthma management from crisis response to forward-thinking disease alteration. True innovators in respiratory medicine distinguish themselves by adhering rigorously to scientific evidence, revolutionizing approaches to both asthma and COPD.
— Robert Fogel, MD, Vice President, US Medical Affairs, R&I/V&I at AstraZeneca
Bridging Research and Real-World Applications: AstraZeneca’s Contributions
For more than ten years, AstraZeneca has led innovations in respiratory medicine. The company’s efforts in asthma and COPD have yielded treatments rooted in an understanding of disease pathology, evidence from everyday clinical settings, and strategies guided by biological markers.
In the realm of asthma, AstraZeneca is pioneering both rescue and long-term maintenance options. Simultaneously, it prioritizes improving access through initiatives like promoting early diagnosis, broadening services in remote and marginalized areas, and collaborating with patient advocacy organizations and policymakers to foster greater health equity.
Purposeful Progress in Respiratory Care
The development of fixed-dose triple therapy in asthma holds considerable potential for better disease control, yet unlocking this requires coordinated efforts beyond pharmacology alone. It necessitates harmony across clinical guidelines, insurance coverage, service availability, and equitable distribution. When scientific breakthroughs align with supportive systems, the advantages to patients are maximized.
