Living with severe asthma can feel like a constant battle for breath. Despite using daily inhalers, many people still experience frequent, frightening asthma attacks, persistent wheezing, and limitations on their daily activities. This struggle often leads to a reliance on oral steroids, which can have significant side effects. For those caught in this cycle of uncontrolled symptoms, newer biologic therapies have opened a new door to relief. One of the most groundbreaking of these is Tezspire (tezepelumab-ekko).

Tezspire is a modern prescription medication used as an add-on maintenance treatment for severe asthma. It is not a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. Instead, it is a biologic, a type of drug made from living cells, that is administered regularly to help prevent asthma attacks before they start. What makes Tezspire unique is that it is the first and only asthma biologic that targets a key protein at the very top of the inflammatory chain. This allows it to work effectively for a wide range of patients with severe asthma, regardless of the specific type of inflammation driving their disease. For many, it represents a new level of control and a chance to breathe easier.

What does Tezspire do?

Tezspire is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the add-on maintenance treatment of severe asthma in adults and children aged 12 years and older. It is specifically for patients whose asthma is not well-controlled with their current high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and other asthma medications.

The primary goals of treatment with Tezspire are to reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks (also known as exacerbations) and to improve overall lung function. Patients taking Tezspire may experience:

• A significant reduction in the number of asthma attacks they have per year.
• Fewer hospitalizations or emergency room visits for asthma.
• Improved breathing and less day-to-day asthma symptoms.
• A reduced need for oral corticosteroid medications.

Clinical studies have demonstrated Tezspire’s powerful effects. It significantly reduced asthma exacerbations by 56% in the NAVIGATOR trial, benefiting a wide range of patients regardless of inflammatory cell levels. (Menzies-Gow et al., 2021).

How does Tezspire work?

To understand how Tezspire works, it helps to think of the inflammation in your airways as a fire. In asthma, the immune system overreacts to triggers like allergens or viruses, starting an inflammatory fire that causes the airways to swell, tighten, and produce excess mucus. Many different types of immune cells and signals act as the “fuel” for this fire.

Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP), a “master alarm” protein, initiates the inflammatory cascade in asthma. Released when the lung lining is irritated, it triggers various inflammatory pathways leading to asthma symptoms.

Tezspire, a monoclonal antibody, uniquely blocks TSLP, stopping the inflammatory “spark” that ignites various types of severe asthma by neutralizing it “upstream.” This comprehensive action calms a broad range of inflammation, making it effective for many severe asthma types.

Tezspire side effects

Tezspire is generally well-tolerated, but like all medications, it can cause side effects. The most common ones are often mild to moderate.

Common side effects may include:

• Sore throat (pharyngitis)
• Joint pain (arthralgia)
• Back pain
• Injection site reactions (such as redness, swelling, or pain where the shot was given)

Serious side effects are rare but possible. The most important to be aware of is a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction. While this is not common, it can be severe. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience signs of a serious allergic reaction after your injection, such as:

• Hives or a severe rash
• Swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue
• Breathing problems
• Fainting, dizziness, or feeling lightheaded

Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic (helminth) infection, as Tezspire may affect your body’s ability to fight it. Your doctor will want to treat the infection before you begin taking Tezspire.

Tezspire dosage

Tezspire is a subcutaneous injection given every four weeks. It can be administered by a healthcare professional or at home by trained patients/caregivers using a pre-filled pen or syringe.

Tezspire treatment doesn’t need routine blood tests. Your doctor will clinically monitor your asthma control through symptom assessment, frequency of attacks, and rescue inhaler/oral steroid use during follow-up appointments, ensuring the medication’s safety and effectiveness.

Does Tezspire have a generic version?

No, there is no generic or biosimilar version of Tezspire (tezepelumab-ekko) currently available. However, international versions may exist in other markets. Tezspire is a complex biologic medication that is protected by patents. The equivalent of a generic drug for a biologic is called a biosimilar. The process to develop and approve a biosimilar is lengthy and highly regulated, and none exist for Tezspire at this time. Therefore, it is only available under its brand name.

Conclusion

Tezspire represents a major advancement in the management of severe asthma, offering a powerful option for a broad range of patients who have struggled to find relief. Its unique mechanism of blocking the “master alarm” protein TSLP allows it to control multiple inflammatory pathways at once, leading to fewer asthma attacks, better breathing, and an improved quality of life.

With its convenient four-week dosing schedule and no requirement for routine lab monitoring, it provides an effective and manageable long-term treatment strategy. A thorough discussion with your doctor will help determine if Tezspire is the right choice to help you take control of your severe asthma and breathe more freely.

References

1. Amgen & AstraZeneca. (2021). TEZSPIRE® (tezepelumab-ekko) injection Prescribing Information. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/761224s000lbl.pdf
2. Mayo Clinic. (2024). Tezepelumab-ekko (Subcutaneous Route). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/tezepelumab-ekko-subcutaneous-route/symptoms/drg-20521612
3. Menzies-Gow, A., Corren, J., Bourdin, A., Chupp, G., Israel, E., Wechsler, M. E., … & Colice, G. (2021). Tezepelumab in adults and adolescents with severe, uncontrolled asthma. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(19), 1800-1809. https://www.nejm.org/