Biologics Specialist

What are biologics?

Biologics are one of the latest treatment advances for chronic health conditions. Biologic medications consist of extracts taken from living organisms and could include:

• Tissues
• Genes
• Allergens
• Cells
• Blood components
• Blood
• Recombinant proteins

Biologics target specific antibodies, cell receptors, or molecules that generate inflammation in your tissues. Inflammation is a significant factor in the development of several ENT conditions, including asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and nasal polyps.

What are the advantages of biologics?

There are numerous advantages to using biologics. One of the key benefits is that biologics are able to target the causes of inflammatory conditions selectively. This is in contrast to steroid medication, which suppresses your whole immune system.

You can safely take biologic medications at the same time as traditional pharmaceuticals. This helps optimize symptom control, resulting in a significant improvement in your quality of life and less lost work and study time.

Using biologics could also reduce the number of asthma attacks you experience, so you avoid visits to the emergency room and have fewer stays in the hospital.

How do biologics help with asthma?

Asthma causes breathing difficulties when your airways narrow in response to triggers like environmental allergens, exercise, or the weather.

If you have asthma that’s still causing symptoms frequently despite using daily medications, there are several biologics available that can help, including:

• Omalizumab
• Mepolizumab
• Reslizumab
• Benralizumab
• Dupilumab

These biologics work by targeting allergy antibodies or the cells and molecules that play a key role in allergic inflammation.

How do biologics help with chronic rhinosinusitis?

Chronic rhinosinusitis is an inflammatory condition affecting your nose and sinuses. It causes cheek pain and a painful, blocked, and runny nose. If you have this condition, you could also develop nasal polyps — noncancerous, soft growths in your nasal passages.

The standard treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis is steroid nasal sprays, which may cause side effects, especially after long-term usage. Biologic drugs like dupilumab are an effective alternative that improves chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms and shrinks nasal polyps.

How do I take biologics?

If your provider at Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. believes biologics could help you, they order bloodwork or environmental allergen skin prick tests to determine which biologic would be best for you.

Biologic drugs aren't taken as an oral medication because they consist of proteins that your digestive system would quickly break down. Instead, your provider delivers biologic medication via an injection or intravenous (IV) infusion.

To find out more about biologics and how they could benefit your health, call Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. today or book an appointment online.