Epithelial Science
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Following the science to improve patient outcomes
Severe asthma is a debilitating disease that affects up to 26 million people worldwide, resulting in frequent exacerbations and significant limitations on lung function and quality of life. We know that many people with asthma are underserved today and that asthma remains a significant public, and personal, health challenge.
Managing severe asthma is challenging because airway inflammation is complex, heterogeneous and dynamic. Patients often present with more than one type of inflammation, complicating their treatment.
Despite treatment advancements and increased scientific understanding over the last two decades, there remains vast potential to improve treatment particularly for patients with unknown, unclear, or multiple drivers of inflammation. That’s why our scientists are working to further expand scientific knowledge around the drivers and biological mechanisms of asthma to tackle the disease pathophysiology in new and powerful ways.
At AstraZeneca, we’re building on our 50-year heritage in respiratory care by pursuing scientific breakthroughs that will revolutionise our understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma and inform the development of much-needed innovation that could improve patient care and outcomes.
We’re developing new ways of bringing treatments forward. This includes new drug modalities beyond the inhaled and biologic medicines of today, making no target undruggable. Bringing precision medicine capabilities to identify the patients that respond and creating the next generation clinical trials which leverage technology to ease the burden on patients.
By understanding the role key epithelial cytokines play at the top of the inflammatory cascade, we can begin to further understand the complex nature of this challenging disease.
"We remain committed to advancing the science so that people living with severe asthma who are underserved today will have a better future tomorrow. That’s why we are focused on following the science to understand the underlying causes and biological mechanisms of this debilitating disease.
Learn from our experts
References
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Veeva ID: Z4-53919
Dare of preparation: May 2023