Anti-interleukin 4 and 13 for asthma treatment in the era of endotypes

Purpose of review: To summarize recent advances in IL-4 and IL-13 blockade in the treatment of asthma.

Recent findings: Historically, anticytokine therapies have historically been unsuccessful in the treatment of asthma because of the heterogeneity of its pathogenesis. Recent advances in our understanding of asthma pathophysiology and our increased ability to phenotype patients have led to the identification of asthmatic subsets (endotypes) that are most likely to respond to anticytokine therapy. Several new biologic therapies targeting IL-13 or both IL-4 and IL-13 signaling are currently in clinical trials and both types of therapies have demonstrated therapeutic benefit.

Summary: Anti-IL-4/13 therapies, guided by knowledge of an individual's underlying pathophysiology, are a promising class of therapies for treatment of asthma.