Use of biologics in the treatment of asthma, COPD, ACOS, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

The emerging trend of therapies for chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as COPD has pointed toward the use of monoclonal humanized antibodies referred to as biologics. Several trials have been done to investigate their efficacy, dose-response, and effects and are still ongoing. Biologics such as mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, and dupilumab has been approved for use as therapies in severe asthma. However, there is no biologic approved or found therapeutically efficacious for the treatment of COPD. Besides, when it comes to the symptoms showing a conjoined effect of asthma and COPD, say, in diseases such as ACOS, there has been a minimal study or trials to cater to the disease. The definition and standard of the disease have been recently classified and agreed upon to diagnose patients. In interstitial lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, there are ongoing trials, and we are eagerly waiting to know their outcomes. This chapter summarizes the available biologics and their role in these pulmonary diseases.