Modifying the course of asthma: mechanisms and strategies for clinical remission.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Asthma management is ongoing a paradigm shift from symptom control and exacerbation prevention toward the more comprehensive goal of clinical remission. This review is timely because biologic therapies, precision medicine, and improved understanding of immunopathological mechanisms have made remission a realistic therapeutic goal. By integrating clinical, functional, and biological outcomes, remission offers a more comprehensive framework for assessing long-term disease control.

Recent findings: Recent evidence demonstrate that biologic drugs, such as Mepolizumab, Omalizumab, Dupilumab, Benralizumab, and Tezepelumab, allow clinical remission to be achieved in many patients affected by severe asthma particularly those who show a phenotyping polarized toward T2-High. Lifestyle change, particularly weight loss and smoking cessation, early intervention, and the use of allergen immunotherapy may increase the chances of achieving remission. Real-world data confirm that remission rates vary depending on the definition applied, going from clinical to complete remission, highlighting the lack of a universally shared definition of remission and the need for standardized criteria.

Summary: Clinical remission in asthma is now a feasible target. Achieving this goal requires a multidimensional approach that integrates biologics, early treatment, comorbidity management, and lifestyle interventions. Standardized definitions and biomarkers are essential to guide therapeutic decisions and predict long-term outcomes.