Can my teenage son take Tezspire for severe asthma?

Question

Hi doctor,

My teenage son has had worsening asthma despite being on multiple medications, including high-dose steroids and inhalers. His specialist now recommends injection of Tezspire, which I have never heard of. I am extremely nervous about starting him on something new, especially an injection. What if he reacts badly, or it suppresses his immune system? I also read that Tezspire is for a specific type of asthma. What if he does not qualify, or it does not help him? I am scared of side effects and worried about committing to a long-term injectable treatment without fully knowing what to expect. We just want him to breathe easily again.

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and can understand your concern.

You are asking all the right questions, and it is completely understandable to be cautious. Tezspire (Tezepelumab) is a newer biologic treatment for severe asthma, and it is normal to feel nervous about starting an injectable medication, especially for your child.

Let me explain what Tezspire is, and who it is for.

Tezspire is a biologic, a targeted monoclonal antibody. It is approved for severe asthma in patients 12 years and older, regardless of eosinophil count. This sets it apart from other biologics that only work for specific asthma types. It targets TSLP (thymic stromal lymphopoietin), an upstream inflammation trigger in the airway.

So yes, even if your son's asthma is not eosinophilic or allergic, he may still qualify.

Your son is likely being considered because:

He is on high-dose inhaled steroids.
He is still having frequent flare-ups, emergency room visits, or hospitalizations.
Other medications have not adequately controlled his symptoms.

It has to be administered as one injection every four weeks. It can be given at home after initial doses in a clinic. Many patients have noticed improvement in a few weeks.

The most common side effects based on trials of this medication include:

Sore throat, headache, and joint pain.
Injection site reaction.
Some rare cases of hypersensitivity (allergic reaction).

Importantly:

It does not suppress the immune system broadly as oral steroids do. There is no increased rate of serious infections or cancers seen so far. Long-term safety data is still growing, but results have been encouraging.

Questions to ask before starting:

Has he had blood work or breathing tests confirming severe, uncontrolled asthma?
Is his asthma non-allergic or not responding to standard biologics like Dupixentz (Dupilumab) or Xolair (Omalizumab)?
What is the plan if Tezspire does not help within three to six months?

Your pulmonologist should have considered these before recommending it, but you can always ask for a second opinion or discuss a three-month trial period.

What you might expect:

Fewer asthma attacks.
Less reliance on rescue inhalers or oral steroids.
Better quality of life and possibly improved lung function.

Your concerns are valid. Tezspire is a serious step, but for many teens with severe, life-limiting asthma, it can be life-changing. If you are unsure, a shared decision-making session with his doctor (with you, your son, and possibly a pediatric immunologist or pulmonologist) can really help ease that uncertainty.

Hope this helps answer your question.

Thank you.