7 Biologics for Asthma: What to Know About Breathing Easier With Xolair, Nucala, and More
Biologics for asthma may be considered for people with moderate to severe symptoms. Examples of asthma biologics include Xolair, Dupixent, and Nucala.
Tezspire
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.
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 Brands | Tezspire |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | TSLP blocker |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
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%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Injection site reactions (e.g., skin redness, swelling, pain)
Tezspire (tezepelumab) 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
The following Tezspire (tezepelumab) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Back pain
- Cough
- Joint pain
- Nosebleed
- Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
- Sore throat
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GoodRx discount
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Pros and cons of Tezspire (tezepelumab)
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
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 for Tezspire (tezepelumab)
- 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.
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.
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).
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.
Tezspire (tezepelumab) dosage
The average cost for 1 pen of 210mg of 210mg/1.91ml of Tezspire (tezepelumab) is $4,718.83 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 30.36% off the average retail price of $6,776.08. 
Pen
Pen| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 210mg of 210mg/1.91ml | 1 pen | $4,718.83 | $4,718.83 |
Typical dosage for Tezspire (tezepelumab)
The typical dose is 210 mg injected under the skin once every month.
How much does Tezspire (tezepelumab) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Tezspire (brand)
$4,718.83
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.
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