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A biologic is a medication made from the cells of a living organism, such as bacteria or mice, that is then modified to target specific molecules in humans. For asthma, the targets are antibodies, inflammatory molecules, or cell receptors. By targeting these molecules, biologics work to disrupt the pathways that lead to inflammation that causes asthma symptoms. Currently there are five approved biologics for asthma – omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, and dupilumab – with several others currently in development.

Omalizumab targets IgE. Mepolizumab, reslizumab, and benralizumab all target pathways that affect eosinophils, a cell involved in allergic inflammation. Dupilumab targets a receptor for two molecules that drive allergic inflammation. Omalizumab is approved for patients as young as 6 years old, while all the other biologics except for reslizumab are approved for patients as young as 12 years old. Reslizumab is approved for adults 18 and over.