What is asthma?
Asthma is a reversible obstructive lung disease in which the airways narrow. Although these effects are usually temporary, they can cause shortness of breath, breathing trouble, and other symptoms. If an episode is severe, a person may need emergency care to restore normal breathing.

Asthma is a recurring condition in which environmental triggers (such as pollen, dust, and cold air) cause the abnormal release of cytokines from T helper type 2 (Th2) immune cells. Specifically, interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 13 (IL-13) cause inflammation and constriction of the airways. An exaggerated Th2 immune response is believed to be one of the most important pathways in the pathology of asthma, particularly in patients living with severe, uncontrolled asthma. One out of every four asthmatics, or approximately 11 million asthmatics in Noth America, Europe, and Japan, are not adequately controlled on currently available therapies.

Poorly controlled asthma is a serious growing problem worldwide. In recent years, the use of corticosteroids and long-acting β-2 agonists has dramatically improved asthma care; however, 20% of patients are not well controlled on Advair ® and 35% of patients are not well controlled on Flovent ® (Rabe, KF et al. Eur Respir J 2000 16(5):802-7). Asthma is still a significant cause of pre-mature death and represents a significant unmet medical need, particularly for those patients in which current therapies are not effective.


Symptoms and consequences of poorly controlled asthma include:

  • Nocturnal awakenings due to difficulty in breathing
  • Daily wheezing
  • Interruption of normal daily activities
  • High healthcare utilization costs


Effective investigational asthma medications should reduce underlying inflammation in the airways and prevent symptomatic airway narrowing. Gaining control of the inflammation is key to the reduction in airway sensitivity and prevention of airway obstruction. AEROVANT™ is engineered to target the root cause of asthma by interrupting the Th2 immune response that underlies the inflammation in the lungs of asthmatics by blocking the actions of IL-4 and IL-13 simultaneously.

More information about asthma can be found on the following websites:
American Lung Association
National Asthma Campaign
Asthma and Allergy Foundation
The Pulmonology Channel