Asthma affects more than 25 million people in the US. Treatment for most people centers on daily inhaled steroids to control inflammation, plus quick-relief inhalers for symptoms. For severe asthma that doesn't respond well to standard inhalers, newer biologic drugs target specific immune pathways that drive attacks.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing new biologics that target different immune molecules, including alarmins that trigger inflammation early in an attack. Researchers are studying ways to predict which patients will respond to which biologic, testing long-acting bronchodilators combined with anti-inflammatory drugs, and investigating treatments for severe attacks that send people to the hospital. Some studies focus on understanding why some children outgrow asthma while others don't.
Alarmin-targeting biologics
These drugs block TSLP and other molecules that kick off the immune cascade leading to asthma attacks. Tezepelumab, approved in 2021, reduces attacks across multiple asthma types.
Precision matching
Studies are identifying biomarkers that predict which biologic will work best for each person. This includes measuring eosinophils, IgE, and other immune markers to guide treatment choice.
Severe attack prevention
Trials are testing whether starting biologics earlier, or using them in new combinations, can prevent the sudden, severe attacks that lead to emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on asthma severity, how well current inhalers control symptoms, history of attacks requiring steroids, and often specific biomarker levels like eosinophil count or IgE.
What types of trials are currently open
- Biologic trials — Testing new drugs that target specific immune pathways, usually given as injections every few weeks. These trials often focus on people with severe asthma not controlled by inhalers.
- Inhaler trials — Testing new combinations of anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator drugs in a single inhaler, or testing whether existing drugs work better when given in different doses or schedules.
- Pediatric studies — Testing treatments specifically in children, or following children over years to understand how asthma changes as they grow.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether early treatment in high-risk infants or toddlers can prevent asthma from developing.
- Observational studies — Following people with asthma to learn what triggers attacks, how lung function changes over time, and what predicts response to different treatments.
Recently added Asthma trials
Infant RSV Immunity Study
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a main global cause of respiratory illness and death in infants. Previous infant vaccine trials have failed to demonstrate protection. Moreover, RSV infection during early infancy, particularly in infants younger than 4 months of age, is associated with more severe disease, reduced immune protection, and an increased risk of developing childhood asthma. This study aim to investigate the immunological and long-term health effects of a first exposure to RSV early (\<4 months) versus late (\>6-9 months) in infancy.
Execise Intervention in Adult Severe Asthma
Physical activity has been shown to improve asthma control in individuals with asthma. Patients with severe asthma frequently experience exacerbations, which often result in a physically inactive lifestyle. The investigators therefore hypothesize that patients with severe asthma who initiate biological therapy may particularly benefit from increased physical activity, both in terms of exercise capacity and asthma control. The aim of this study is to determine whether an individually tailored exercise program improves exercise capacity and asthma control in patients with severe asthma. Additionally, the study evaluates the effects of the intervention on asthma symptoms, frequency of exacerbations, lung function, quality of life, and body composition. The primary outcome is the change in exercise tolerance, measured as peak oxygen uptake during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes include asthma symptoms (proportion of patients reporting improvement based on the Asthma Control Test), frequency of exacerbations, changes in lung function (FVC and FEV1), asthma-related quality of life (AQLQ), and changes in body composition (body mass index and waist circumference). At baseline, all participants undergo fitness assessments, including cardiopulmonary exercise testing and muscle strength tests. Participants are then randomized into two groups. The intervention group receives an individually tailored 6-month exercise program designed by a sports medicine physician and a physiotherapist based on baseline fitness level. The control group receives standard advice to increase physical activity. Asthma medication is managed according to standard clinical practice in both groups. Fitness assessments are repeated at 6 months for all participants, and asthma control is evaluated at 6 and 12 months
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