Asthma Biologic precision medicines for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma

What are Asthma Biologics?

A group of medicines prescribed in Severe Asthma Centres (SACs) to treat a group of people with asthma (eosinophilic asthma or severe persistent allergic asthma) who continue to experience attacks despite usual treatments such as inhaled steroids. These medicines include Omalizumab, Mepolizumab, Reslizumab and Benralizumab.

What is the challenge?

Currently, only a small proportion of patients who could benefit from these medicines are identified in primary care and referred to SACs; a recent study of primary care systems showed 72% of potential severe asthma patients had no referral or specialist review in the past year.

What is the role of primary care?

• Proactively identify at-risk patients using freely available tools (SystmOne and EMIS compatible)
• Refer appropriate patients to the severe asthma centre (SAC) for consideration for biologics therapy
• Participate in upcoming adherence and prescribing training
• Participate in respiratory virtual clinics (RVCs) where appropriate
• Promote these patient information leaflets, advising patients when to seek further advice.

What support is there available to primary care?

Implementation support through the Health Innovation Network (HIN) RUP team – Please get in touch with the HIN team, Iona and Dom, at hin.nhsaac@nhs.net

An Asthma Biologics toolkit has also been developed, including:

• Details of SPECTRA (Identification of SusPECTed seveRe Asthma in adults) – specifically identifying potential severe asthma patients – and other freely available search tools here
• Free educational resources here
• And case study examples of successful work already completed