Abstract
Advances in molecular biology alongside the accelerated development of
gene and cell engineering have contributed to the development of several
endotype-targeted biological therapies against chronic immune-mediated
allergic diseases. Conventional therapies for asthma, chronic
rhinosinusitis with polyposis (CRSwNP), chronic spontaneous urticaria
and atopic dermatitis (AD) are not without limitations, and as such the
advent of biological therapies have provided a promising alternative
treatment option. Biologicals have proven efficacious in the treatment
of refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria, asthma, AD, CRSwNP and
there is increasing evidence for their utility in treating food allergy.
Biologicals are applied and investigated for the most urgent need: acute
treatment, symptom control and reduction of steroid usage. Currently
there are five approved biologicals for allergic disease management,
targeted against IgE (omalizumab), type 2 (T2) cytokines and cytokine
receptors (IL-4Ra; dupilumab, IL-5; mepolizumab/reslizumab, IL-5Ra;
benralizumab).