Care pathway for Monoclonal Antibody Therapy of Severe Eosinophilic Asthma The use of Monoclonal Antibody (Mab) therapy is relatively new and evolving, but promises to revolutionise the management of asthma.
This study by AstraZeneca has demonstrated the value of appraising the sustainability of care pathways using SHC’s guidance. The assessment has identified the environmental hotspots in the care of a patient with asthma and how they are affected by the use of new Mab treatments.
This study estimates that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a patients’ management of severe asthma is reduced by approximately 50% through the use of Mab therapy. This reduction results from the combined effects of improved control of symptoms, reduced exacerbations and a decrease in hospital admissions. These trends directly affect the environmental impact associated with asthma management and are important steps towards a more sustainable treatment paradigm for this debilitating disease.
Further studies are needed to confirm the key conclusions provided in the case study. But the case study points to using innovative medicines to improve a patient’s control of asthma, to reduce the need for health care interventions and to prevent exacerbations are all steps towards a more sustainable approach to control the disease.