Doctors describe asthma as a chronic inflammatory disease most often triggered by allergies to antibodies in the body. The condition can result in devastating side effects such as sleep apnea, emergency room visits, coughing, and difficulty breathing. More importantly, asthma leads to a decreased quality of life. Unfortunately, this debilitating respiratory condition has become increasingly more common, with approximately 34 million Americans alone suffering from asthma.
New Breakthroughs With Dupilumab
With one out of every five sufferers of asthma unable to control their condition with existing medications, this breakthrough is more than encouraging. If dupilumab proves to be a successful treatment, patients will benefit from less frequent asthma attacks and trips to the emergency room, as well as a decreased need for fast-acting inhalants.
The Future of Dupilumab
While dupilumab may present a bright future for victims of uncontrolled asthma, the medication is still in the works. Pharmacists and researchers must determine proper dosing of the medicine to ensure that the product will work effectively and safely for patients in the future. In this process, researchers at Sanofi will be conducting a two-year study of doses in order to determine adequate dosage amounts. Chief scientist at Regeneron George Yancopoulos feels hopeful for the possibilities of dupilumab as a reliable treatment for patients with uncontrolled asthma.