Work

Beyond biomarkers: the role of clinical factors associated with biologic therapy response in severe asthma

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Severe asthma carries a high burden and often requires biologic therapy targeting type 2 (T2) inflammation. However, treatment response is heterogeneous, and traditional biomarkers, such as blood eosinophils, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and total serum IgE, may not fully explain this variability . OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical and inflammatory characteristics associated with response to biologic therapies in a real-world cohort of severe asthma patients. METHODS: A single-center, ambispective observational study was conducted in the Allergology Department of A Coruña, Spain. Sixty-seven patients with severe uncontrolled asthma and treated with omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab, or tezepelumab, were included. Patients were followed for ≥12 months. Clinical variables and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed at baseline, 4-6 months, and 12 months. Comparisons between biologic subgroups and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with response. RESULTS: Female sex, nasal polyposis, elevated blood eosinophils, and frequent exacerbations were associated with better response to biologics. Clinical factors such as nasal polyposis and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) showed a stronger association with treatment response than standard biomarkers (FeNO, blood eosinophils). The mean diagnostic delay was 12.1 years, suggesting a potential influence on therapeutic results. CONCLUSION: Beyond traditional biomarkers, clinical factors particulary nasal polyposis and AERD may play a key role in understanding response patterns to biologics. Incorporating these variables into clinical assessment may help support a more personalized management approach in severe asthma.

Source: Annals of Medicine

DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2026.2627026

Authors: Raquel Lopez-Rodríguez, José Antonio Cañas, Ignacio Mahíllo-Fernández, Manuel Jorge Rial