What is the treatment for COPD and eosinophilic asthma?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 62-year-old male who has been diagnosed with both COPD and eosinophilic asthma. I have been on inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators for years, but my breathing is still not well controlled. My pulmonologist recommends Tezspire (Tezepelumab) because of my high eosinophil count. However, I read that Tezspire is mainly approved for asthma, not COPD. Given my COPD-asthma overlap, would Tezspire still be effective for me? Will it help with both conditions or would I need to continue other COPD-specific medications as well? Are there any long-term side effects of Tezspire that I should be aware of, especially lung function decline in COPD patients?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Tezspire (Tezepelumab) is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved for severe asthma, but its role in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) -asthma overlap is still being studied. Since your eosinophil count is high, Tezspire may help reduce exacerbations and improve asthma control, but it would not replace your COPD-specific medications like bronchodilators. You will likely need to continue those for airflow limitation and symptom relief. As for long-term side effects, Tezspire is generally well tolerated, the most common being mild injection site reactions and increased risk of infections like colds. Its impact on lung function decline in COPD patients is not fully known yet, so regular monitoring with your pulmonologist is key. Have you had a recent lung function test to track any changes?

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.