Type 2 inflammation and biological therapies in asthma: Targeted medicine taking flight

The field of asthma has undergone a dramatic change in recent years. Advances in our understanding of type 2 airway inflammation have driven the discovery of monoclonal antibodies targeting specific aspects of the immune pathway. In landmark trials, these drugs have shown efficacy in reducing asthma attacks and exposure to oral corticosteroids, important causes of morbidity in people with asthma. Our review explores the key features of type 2 inflammation in asthma and summarizes the clinical trial evidence of the novel monoclonal antibody treatments and future avenues for treatment. In this Review, we discuss the key features of type 2 inflammation in asthma, summarize the clinical trial evidence of monoclonal antibody asthma treatments, and explore future avenues for targeted asthma treatment.