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Tezspire

tezepelumab-ekko
Used for Asthma
Used for Asthma

Tezspire (tezepelumab or tezepelumab-ekko) is one of the available biologics for treating asthma. It's approved for people 12 years and older with severe asthma that's not controlled by other medications. Tezspire (tezepelumab) is an injection that's given under the skin once per month by a healthcare professional (HCP). There's also a prefilled pen for Tezspire (tezepelumab) that you can use at home after proper training from an HCP. Side effects aren't common but can include joint and back pain.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP
reviewer
Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD
Last reviewed on June 6, 2024
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageCostAlternativesLatest newsReferencesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Tezspire (tezepelumab)?

What is Tezspire (tezepelumab) used for?

  • Add-on maintenance treatment for severe asthma in people ages 12 years and older

How Tezspire (tezepelumab) works

Tezspire (tezepelumab) is a biologic called a thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) blocker. It attaches to the TSLP protein, which is involved in causing airway inflammation in asthma. By attaching to this protein, Tezspire (tezepelumab) blocks it from working. This helps lower inflammation in your airways and better control your asthma.

Drug Facts

Common BrandsTezspire
Drug ClassTSLP blocker
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusNo lower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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What are the side effects of Tezspire (tezepelumab)?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Sore throat (4%)
  • Joint pain or stiffness (4%)
  • Back pain (4%)

Other Side Effects

  • Injection site reactions (e.g., skin redness, swelling, pain)

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Serious allergic reaction: hives, rash, blisters, skin reddening, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Tezspire (tezepelumab)

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Pros

Works well to prevent asthma attacks from happening and to improve your breathing

Might work better than other asthma biologics

Only given once per month

Can use in children as young as 12 years old

thumbs-down

Cons

Given as an injection under the skin

Might be difficult for some people to administer properly

Only used as add-on therapy to other asthma medications

Hasn't been studied during pregnancy or while breastfeeding

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Tezspire (tezepelumab)

pharmacist

  • Mark your calendar for your Tezspire (tezepelumab) injections and your appointments to see your prescriber. This can be helpful for remembering when to get your injections. And seeing your provider at follow-up visits is important for discussing how well the medication is working to manage your asthma.

    • It's recommended that you enroll in the Tezspire Together Program that the manufacturer offers. This program offers several resources, including an asthma symptom tracker that you can use and bring to your prescriber's office to discuss how treatment is going.

      • Don't take Tezspire (tezepelumab) to treat sudden asthma attacks. This medication isn't helpful for relieving asthma attacks. Make sure to keep a rescue inhaler nearby for these situations.

        • Before you get any vaccinations, tell your healthcare professional that you're taking Tezspire (tezepelumab). You can still get most vaccines while you're taking this medication. But you shouldn't get live vaccines because it's not known whether they work well or are safe with Tezspire (tezepelumab). An example of a live vaccine is the FluMist nasal flu vaccine.

          • Don't suddenly stop taking or change the dose of any of your other asthma medications while you're taking Tezspire (tezepelumab) without talking to your prescriber first, even if your asthma is getting better. This can worsen your asthma and raise your risk for certain problems. For example, suddenly lowering the dose of or stopping steroids (inhaled or by mouth) can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

            Tips on how to use the Tezspire (tezepelumab) pen at home:

            • Before you can use Tezspire (tezepelumab) at home, your prescriber will train you on how to properly and safely inject the medication yourself. Review the instructions for use or watch the video on how to inject Tezspire (tezepelumab). Contact your prescriber or pharmacist if you have any questions.

              • Store unused Tezspire (tezepelumab) prefilled pens in the refrigerator. Keep them in their original package to protect them from light.

                • When it's time for your dose, take a Tezspire (tezepelumab) pen out of the refrigerator and place it on a flat surface for about 1 hour to warm up to room temperature. Don't warm it up any other way (e.g., microwave, under hot water) because you might damage the medication. Once the pen reaches room temperature, use it within 30 days; don't put it back in the refrigerator.

                  • Inject Tezspire (tezepelumab) under the skin in the front of your thigh or the lower part of your stomach (2 inches away from your belly button). Never inject into a muscle, vein, or the arm.

                    • Choose a different area of skin to inject into each time (at least 1 inch away from where you injected last time). This helps lower the risk of bruising and skin irritation. Also don't inject into skin that's tender, bruised, scaly, hard, scarred, or damaged. Don't inject through clothing.

                      • After you inject Tezspire (tezepelumab), throw away the used pen in a sharps container or something made of heavy-duty plastic (e.g., empty milk carton, laundry detergent bottle). This helps lower the risk of needle-stick injuries. Don't throw away the pen in your trash can.

                        faqs

                        Frequently asked questions about Tezspire (tezepelumab)

                        How well does Tezspire (tezepelumab) work?
                        In a year-long study, people who took Tezspire (tezepelumab) in addition to other asthma medications had overall about 70% fewer asthma attacks per year than those who didn't get an add-on treatment. These included asthma attacks that could require hospitalization. People who took Tezspire (tezepelumab) for a year also had better breathing and lung function than those who didn't get additional treatment. Discuss with your asthma specialist if Tezspire (tezepelumab) is right for you. Speak with your prescriber about how well Tezspire (tezepelumab) is working for your asthma if you're already taking the medication,
                        How long does it take for Tezspire (tezepelumab) to work?
                        A study showed that some people started to breathe better within 2 weeks of starting Tezspire (tezepelumab). In the same study, researchers found that this matches the time it takes for the medication to start lowering the amount of proteins that tend to cause inflammation and contribute to asthma symptoms. Speak to your prescriber if you're concerned with how well Tezspire (tezepelumab) is working for you.
                        Can Tezspire (tezepelumab) be given at home?
                        Ask your prescriber whether it's okay for you to give yourself Tezspire (tezepelumab) injections at home. Your prescriber will most likely inject the medication at their office when you first start treatment. Depending on how comfortable you are, your prescriber might train you to give yourself the injections at home. They also might decide that it's better for you to get them at a clinic or medical office. Tezspire (tezepelumab) vials and prefilled syringes are only for injections given by a healthcare professional, but Tezspire (tezepelumab) prefilled pens are available for easy use at home.
                        Is Tezspire (tezepelumab) a steroid?
                        No, Tezspire (tezepelumab) isn't a steroid; it's a biologic. Both Tezspire (tezepelumab) and steroid medications work to lower inflammation, but they do so in different ways. Your asthma specialist might consider adding Tezspire (tezepelumab) to your maintenance steroid inhaler if you still need more control of your asthma symptoms.
                        What's the difference between Tezspire (tezepelumab) and Dupixent?
                        Both Tezspire (tezepelumab) and Dupixent (dupilumab) are biologics for asthma that are injections. Tezspire is approved for children ages 12 years an older, whereas Dupixent is approved for children ages 6 years and older. Tezspire is injected once per month; Dupixent is injected every 2 weeks for people 12 years and older (though younger children can get Dupixent once per month). While both medications haven't been compared to each other, a indirect comparison study found that Tezspire (tezepelumab) tends to lower the number of asthma attacks per year more than other asthma biologics like Dupixent. Ask your asthma specialist if you have more questions about comparing the two medications.
                        Does Tezspire (tezepelumab) cause weight gain?
                        People didn't report changes in weight after they started treatment with Tezspire (tezepelumab) in clinical trials. Speak with your healthcare team if you experience unusual weight changes while you're taking Tezspire (tezepelumab).
                        Does Tezspire (tezepelumab) cause hair loss?
                        Hair loss wasn't a side effect reported by people who took Tezspire (tezepelumab) in clinical trials. Speak with your prescriber if you notice hair loss while you're taking this medication so they can examine you for possible causes.
                        Does Tezspire (tezepelumab) cause fatigue?
                        Fatigue wasn't a side effect that was reported by people who took Tezspire (tezepelumab) in clinical trials. Keep in mind that fatigue and lack of energy can be symptoms of asthma. It's best to touch base with your asthma specialist or primary care provider if you notice that you're more fatigued than usual. They might want to see how well controlled your asthma is.
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                        What are the risks and warnings for Tezspire (tezepelumab)?

                        Tezspire (tezepelumab) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

                        risk-warning

                        Severe allergic reaction

                        Severe allergic reactions to Tezspire (tezepelumab) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). These reactions can happen at any time during treatment (within hours or days after injecting). Get medical attention right away if you notice dizziness, a choking sensation, difficulty breathing, nausea, swelling around your eyes, or swelling of the lips or tongue after you take Tezspire (tezepelumab).

                        risk-warning

                        Unknown effect on your immune response to parasitic infections

                        Your body's immune response to parasitic (worm) infections might involve the same protein that Tezspire (tezepelumab) blocks. Clinical studies for Tezspire (tezepelumab) didn't include people with parasitic infections. So it's not known whether your body will respond differently to a parasitic infection while you're taking Tezspire (tezepelumab). Let your prescriber know if you have a known parasitic infection before you start Tezspire (tezepelumab) because you'll need to receive treatment for it first.

                        dosage

                        Tezspire (tezepelumab) dosage forms

                        Typical dosing for Tezspire (tezepelumab)

                        The typical dose is 210 mg injected under the skin once every month.

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                        How much does Tezspire (tezepelumab) cost?

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                        alternatives

                        What are alternatives to Tezspire (tezepelumab)?

                        There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Tezspire (tezepelumab). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                        Tezspire (tezepelumab)
                        Used for:

                        • Add-on maintenance treatment for severe asthma in people ages 12 years and older

                        $4663.73 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                        Nucala (mepolizumab)
                        Used for:

                        • Add-on maintenance treatment for severe asthma

                        • Add-on maintenance treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

                        • Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; swelling of the blood vessels)

                        • Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES; high eosinophils in the blood)

                        View Prices
                        Xolair (omalizumab)
                        Used for:
                        View Prices

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                        References

                        Best studies we found

                        Amgen, Inc. (2023). TEZSPIRE- tezepelumab-ekko injection, solution [package insert]. DailyMed.

                        AstraZeneca. (2023). Tezspire approved for self-administration in the US with a new pre-filled pen.

                        AstraZeneca. (2023). TEZSPIRE instructions for use.

                        View All References (5)

                        AstraZeneca. (2023). TEZSPIRE patient onboarding resources.

                        Corren, J., et al. (2017). Tezepelumab in adults with uncontrolled asthma. The New England Journal of Medicine.

                        Menzies-Gow, A., et al. (2021). Tezepelumab in adults and adolescents with severe, uncontrolled asthma. The New England Journal of Medicine.

                        Menzies-Gow, A., et al. (2022). Tezepelumab compared with other biologics for the treatment of severe asthma: A systematic review and indirect treatment comparison. Journal of Medical Economics.

                        Van Herck, M., et al (2018). Fatigue is highly prevalent in patients with asthma and contributes to the burden of disease. Journal of Clinical Medicine.

                        GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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