Is Tezepelumab a safe drug for severe asthma?

Question

Hello doctor,

I need urgent advice about Tezspire for my 16-year-old daughter's severe asthma. She has been on maximum doses of inhaled steroids, LABA, and Montelukast, and still requires Prednisone bursts every few weeks. Her pulmonologist wants to start Tezspire injections after she failed trials of both Nucala and Dupixent. I am terrified about potential side effects, especially since she is still developing. The pamphlet mentions parasitic infections and hypersensitivity reactions that sound frightening. She is also dealing with severe anxiety about her breathing, and I worry this will add more stress with the bi-weekly injections. Our insurance approved it, but with a $ 500 monthly copay that will strain our finances considerably. Is Tezspire really that different from the other biologics she has tried? How soon would we know if it is working? She is missing so much school because of asthma attacks that she is falling behind academically. Her doctor mentioned this is one of the newer asthma biologics. Does that mean the long-term safety is unknown?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

I am sorry to hear about your daughter's struggles with severe asthma. Tezspire (Tezepelumab) is indeed a newer biologic for asthma, and it works differently from Nucala and Dupixent. While Nucala targets eosinophils and Dupixent targets IL (interleukin)-4 and IL-13 pathways, Tezspire targets thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), which plays a broader role in the inflammatory process of asthma. The potential side effects, such as parasitic infections and hypersensitivity reactions, can sound alarming, but they are relatively rare. It is important to monitor her closely and report any unusual symptoms to her healthcare provider. The anxiety about her breathing is understandable, and addressing this with her healthcare team can help manage her stress.

You might start seeing improvements within a few weeks to a few months after starting Tezspire. It is crucial to keep in close contact with her pulmonologist to assess her response to the treatment. Regarding long-term safety, while Tezspire is newer, it has undergone rigorous clinical trials to ensure its safety and efficacy. However, as with any new medication, long-term data is still being collected.

Given the financial strain, you might explore patient assistance programs offered by the manufacturer or other organizations to help with the copay.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.