Asthma biologics can be used during pregnancy to reduce risk of complications, researchers say

Poorly controlled asthma during pregnancy can lead to serious complications, such as low birth weight, preterm delivery, and preeclampsia. For individuals with severe asthma, biologics—a new type of treatment targeting specific mechanisms in the immune system—have been shown to reduce asthma attacks, lower the need for corticosteroids, and improve quality of life.

However, the safety of biologics during pregnancy is poorly documented, as pregnant women are often excluded from clinical trials.

To address this knowledge gap, an international Delphi study was conducted in which 141 experts from 32 countries agreed on guidelines for the use of these drugs during pregnancy and breastfeeding. A Delphi study is a method where experts anonymously respond to multiple rounds of surveys to achieve consensus.

The findings are published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, with Apostolos Bossios, principal researcher at the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), as one of the authors.

The study concludes that asthma biologics can be used throughout pregnancy, initiated when necessary, and continued during breastfeeding. The expert panel emphasized the importance of weighing risks against benefits and making decisions in consultation with the patient. They also highlighted the need for further data collection through international registries to improve guidelines.

“This consensus offers new opportunities to improve care for pregnant women with severe asthma while reducing the risk of complications associated with the disease,” says Apostolos Bossios.