Tezspire is a brand-name prescription medication used to treat severe asthma. It’s approved for adults and children ages 12 years and older when asthma symptoms can’t be managed with other treatments. You’ll use Tezspire in combination with your current asthma medications.

Tezspire is a long-term maintenance treatment that helps prevent asthma attacks. It is not a rescue medication (a medication used to relieve shortness of breath or asthma attacks).

Drug details

Tezspire contains the active drug tezepelumab-ekko. It’s a type of biologic drug called a monoclonal antibody. Biologics are drugs made from living cells. And monoclonal antibodies block the activity of certain proteins in the body.

Tezspire comes as a solution that’s given as a subcutaneous injection by your healthcare professional once every 4 weeks. Tezspire comes as a solution inside vials and prefilled syringes. Each vial and syringe contain a single dose of 210 milligrams (mg). You’ll receive your injection in your doctor’s office or clinic.

FDA approval

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Tezspire as an add-on maintenance treatment for severe asthma in 2021. It’s the first treatment approved by the FDA to treat all types of severe asthma.

Tezspire works by blocking a protein that’s involved in airway inflammation, called thymic stromal lymphopoietin. It’s the first drug that works in this way to receive FDA approval.

Effectiveness

For information about the effectiveness of Tezspire, see the “Tezspire uses” section below.

Tezspire is a biologic drug that’s available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic or biosimilar form.

Biologic medications are made from living cells, so it’s not possible to copy these drugs exactly. A generic, on the other hand, refers to drugs made from chemicals. A generic is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication.

Biosimilar medications are considered just as safe and effective as their parent drug. And as with generics, biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to follow the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Tezspire injection forms and strength

Tezspire comes as a solution inside vials and prefilled syringes. Each vial and syringe contain a single dose of 210 milligrams (mg).

Your healthcare professional will give you Tezspire as a subcutaneous injection. They’ll typically use a Tezspire prefilled syringe. You’ll receive your injection in your doctor’s office or clinic.

Tezspire dosing for severe asthma

Tezspire is approved to treat severe asthma in adults and children ages 12 years and older.

The typical recommended dosage is 210 mg (one injection) once every 4 weeks.

Children’s dosage

The recommended dosage of Tezspire for children ages 12 years and older is the same as for adults. See above for details.

What if I miss an appointment for a dose?

If you miss an appointment for your dose of Tezspire, call your doctor’s office right away to reschedule. You should receive the missed dose as soon as possible and then continue with your usual treatment schedule. However, if your next scheduled dose is due soon, you should skip the missed dose.

To help make sure that you don’t miss an appointment to have your dose of Tezspire, be sure to put your treatment schedule on your calendar. You could also try using a medication reminder or download a reminder app on your phone.

Will I need to receive treatment with Tezspire long term?

Tezspire is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Tezspire is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely receive it long term.

As with all medications, the cost of Tezspire can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

It’s important to note that you’ll have to get Tezspire at a specialty pharmacy. This type of pharmacy is authorized to carry specialty medications. These are drugs that may be expensive or may require help from healthcare professionals to be used safely and effectively.

Before approving coverage for Tezspire, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the prior authorization request and decide if it will cover the drug.

If you’re not sure whether you’ll need to get prior authorization for Tezspire, contact your insurance company.

Financial and insurance assistance

If you need financial support to pay for Tezspire, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

There is a Tezspire Together Co-pay Program and a Tezspire Patient Assistance Program for the medication. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 888-TZSPIRE (888-897-7473) or visit the drug manufacturer’s website.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, see this article.

Biosimilar version

Tezspire is a biologic drug that’s available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic or biosimilar form.

Biologic medications are made from living cells, so it’s not possible to copy these drugs exactly. A generic, on the other hand, refers to drugs made from chemicals. A generic is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication.

Biosimilars are considered just as safe and effective as their parent drug. And like generics, biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications.

Tezspire can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur during treatment with Tezspire. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Tezspire, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Tezspire, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Mild side effects* of Tezspire can include:

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* This is a partial list of mild side effects from Tezspire. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Tezspire’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Tezspire are rare, but they can occur. Allergic reaction was the only serious side effect reported with Tezspire in clinical trials.

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after receiving Tezspire.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
  • trouble breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Tezspire, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Tezspire.

How do Tezspire and Dupixent compare?

Tezspire and Dupixent are add-on maintenance (long-term) treatments for severe asthma. Doctors prescribe them for people whose asthma isn’t managed well enough with other treatments. Both drugs are given as a subcutaneous injection. But there are some key differences between Tezspire and Dupixent.

Tezspire is prescribed for people ages 12 years and older with all types of severe asthma. You’ll usually receive it every 4 weeks. Doctors prescribe Dupixent for people ages 6 years and older with moderate to severe asthma that’s either:

Dupixent is usually taken every 2 weeks. This drug also treats moderate to severe eczema and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Tezspire contains the active drug tezepelumab-ekko, while Dupixent contains the active drug dupilumab. Both are biologic drugs called monoclonal antibodies. Biologics are drugs made using living cells. And monoclonal antibodies block the activity of certain proteins in the body. But Tezspire and Dupixent block different proteins involved in causing inflammation.

If you’d like to learn more about how Tezspire and Dupixent compare, talk with your doctor.

Should I use Tezspire if I’m having a sudden asthma flare-up?

Tezspire should not be used to treat a sudden asthma flare-up. It’s not a rescue medication (a medication used to relieve shortness of breath or asthma attacks). Tezspire will not relieve sudden breathing problems.

Tezspire is a long-term maintenance treatment that helps prevent asthma flare-ups. If you have a Tezspire dose scheduled but have a sudden asthma flare-up, you can still receive your Tezspire dose. However, it won’t relieve your breathing problems.

If you have a sudden asthma flare-up, you should use your rescue medication as prescribed by your doctor. See your doctor if your asthma symptoms don’t improve or get worse after starting Tezspire.

Will I still have to take my other asthma medications daily with Tezspire?

Yes, you’ll likely need to keep taking your daily asthma medications while being treated with Tezspire. To read more about other medications you might take with Tezspire, see “Tezspire use with other drugs” below.

Tezspire is a maintenance (long-term) treatment that helps prevent asthma flare-ups. It’s used as an add-on treatment, which means you’ll receive it in combination with your current asthma medications.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend stopping certain other asthma medications if your asthma improves with Tezspire. But you should not make any changes to your asthma treatment, especially any corticosteroids you take, without discussing it with your doctor first. Stopping your other asthma treatments or reducing your doses could make your asthma worse. It could lead to a sudden asthma flare-up.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about taking other asthma medications in combination with Tezspire.

Tezspire is a biologic drug for the treatment of severe asthma. Biologics are drugs made using living cells. Other drugs are available that can treat severe asthma. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Tezspire, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. Off-label drug use is when a drug that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Alternatives for severe asthma

Examples of other drugs that doctors may prescribe to treat severe asthma include:

* These drugs may not be suitable alternatives to Tezspire for all people with severe asthma. Some biologics are only suitable for people with certain types of severe asthma, such as eosinophilic asthma. (With this type of asthma, you have high levels of blood cells called eosinophils.) Tezspire is approved for all types of severe asthma. Also, Tezspire can be used from 12 years of age. But other biologics may have different age restrictions.

Tezspire comes as a solution inside vials and prefilled syringes. Administration of Tezspire is carried out by your healthcare professional in their office or clinic. You’ll receive Tezspire as a subcutaneous injection in your upper arm, thigh, or abdomen (except the 2 inches around your navel).

When Tezspire is given

You’ll receive one injection of Tezspire once every 4 weeks.

To help make sure that you don’t miss an appointment to have Tezspire, be sure to put your treatment schedule on your calendar. You could also try using a medication reminder or download a reminder app on your phone.

Taking Tezspire with food

It doesn’t matter when you have your Tezspire injection in relation to food. Food doesn’t affect the way the medication is absorbed into your body.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Tezspire to treat certain conditions. Tezspire may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label drug use is when a doctor prescribes an FDA-approved drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Tezspire for severe asthma

Tezspire is FDA-approved as an add-on maintenance (long-term) treatment for severe asthma in adults and children ages 12 years and older.

Severe asthma explained

Asthma is a long-term condition that causes inflammation in your airways. The inflammation narrows your airways, causing symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and trouble breathing. If your symptoms suddenly become severe, this is called an asthma attack. It can be life threatening.

In most cases, you can manage asthma with medications that reduce inflammation in your airways, such as inhaled corticosteroids. You’ll use these in combination with other medications that open your airways, such as short-acting beta-agonists. But with severe asthma, standard medications may not work well for you. This can make your symptoms difficult to control and increases your risk of having a severe asthma attack.

Severe asthma symptoms

Sometimes, severe asthma symptoms can occur throughout the day and during the night, causing you to wake up. These symptoms can range in severity. Symptoms of severe asthma can include:

  • wheezing
  • coughing
  • shortness of breath
  • asthma attacks
  • difficulty breathing

Tezspire is a long-term treatment for severe asthma that can reduce your asthma symptoms and help prevent asthma attacks.

Note that Tezspire is not a rescue medication. It won’t work to relieve sudden breathing difficulties or asthma attacks. If you need to relieve sudden breathing problems, you should use your rescue medication as prescribed by your doctor. Examples of rescue medications include albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA, others).

To learn more about severe asthma, visit our hub for asthma and allergies.

Effectiveness for severe asthma

Tezspire is an effective treatment for severe asthma. In clinical trials, Tezspire was found to:

  • reduce the number of asthma flare-ups experienced per year
  • reduce the number of asthma flare-ups needing treatment in the hospital or emergency room
  • increase FEV1 (forced expiratory volume)
  • reduce asthma symptoms and improve quality of life

To learn more about how the drug performed in clinical trials, see Tezspire’s prescribing information.

Tezspire and children

Tezspire is FDA-approved as an add-on maintenance treatment for severe asthma in children ages 12 years and older. There are no studies in younger children.

You’ll receive Tezspire in addition to your current asthma medications. For example, you may be taking some of the following medications:

  • a corticosteroid inhaler, such as:
    • beclomethasone (Qvar RediHaler)
    • budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler)
    • ciclesonide (Alvesco)
    • fluticasone (Flovent)
    • mometasone (Asmanex)
  • corticosteroid tablets, such as:
  • a long-acting beta-agonist inhaler, such as:
  • a combination steroid and bronchodilator inhaler, such as:
    • budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort)
    • fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair Diskus)
    • fluticasone/vilanterol (Breo Ellipta)
    • fluticasone/vilanterol/umeclidinium (Trelegy Ellipta)
    • mometasone/formoterol (Dulera)
  • short-acting beta-agonists, such as:
    • albuterol (Proair HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA
    • terbutaline
  • an antimuscarinic inhaler, such as:
  • leukotriene receptor antagonists, such as:
    • montelukast (Singulair)
    • zafirlukast (Accolate)
  • theophylline (Theo-24)

Tezspire isn’t known to interact with alcohol.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor to see whether it’s safe during your Tezspire treatment.

Tezspire’s manufacturer hasn’t done any drug interaction studies with Tezspire.

Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.

Tezspire and other medications

Tezspire isn’t expected to interact with other medications, but this doesn’t mean interactions aren’t possible.

Before starting Tezspire, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Tezspire and herbs and supplements

There are no reports of herbs or supplements that interact with Tezspire. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products during your Tezspire treatment.

Tezspire and foods

There are no reports of foods that interact with Tezspire. If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Tezspire, talk with your doctor.

Tezspire and vaccines

Tezspire’s manufacturer hasn’t studied the effect of receiving live vaccines during Tezspire treatment. To be safe, you should not receive live vaccines during treatment with Tezspire. Examples of live vaccines include:

Before starting Tezspire, talk with your doctor about your vaccination history. They can advise if any vaccinations are recommended before you start Tezspire.

Tezspire is an add-on maintenance (long-term) treatment for severe asthma.

What happens with severe asthma

Asthma is a long-term condition that causes inflammation in your airways. The inflammation narrows your airways, causing symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and trouble breathing. If your symptoms suddenly become severe, this is called an asthma attack. It can be life threatening.

With severe asthma, standard asthma medications may not work well for you. So you may still have frequent asthma symptoms and asthma attacks even with treatment.

What Tezspire does

Tezspire is a biologic drug called a monoclonal antibody. Biologics are drugs made using living cells. And monoclonal antibodies block the activity of certain proteins in the body.

Tezspire works by blocking a protein involved in immune and allergic responses that cause airway inflammation. This protein is called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). By blocking TSLP, Tezspire reduces levels of certain proteins and cells that cause airway inflammation. Examples of these include eosinophils, leukotrienes, IL-5, and IgE. This helps reduce the inflammation in your airways.

By reducing inflammation in your airways, Tezspire makes breathing easier and reduces symptoms of asthma. This improves your lung function and helps prevent asthma attacks.

How long does it take to work?

Tezspire typically starts working after about 2 weeks, but your symptoms may continue to improve for several months. See your doctor if your asthma symptoms don’t improve or get worse after starting Tezspire.

It’s not known if Tezspire treatment is safe during pregnancy. The drug hasn’t been studied in people who are pregnant. However, monoclonal antibodies (such as Tezspire) can cross the placenta and reach a developing fetus, especially during the third trimester.

In animal studies, Tezspire didn’t cause fetal harm when given to pregnant females. But animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in people.

Note that if you have severe unmanaged asthma during pregnancy, this can increase your risk for complications such as preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy). It can also increase the risk of the baby being born prematurely or with a low birth weight.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of Tezspire.

It’s not known if Tezspire treatment is safe during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while using Tezspire.

For more information about Tezspire treatment during pregnancy, see the “Tezspire and pregnancy” section above.

It’s not known if it’s safe to breastfeed during Tezspire treatment. The drug hasn’t been studied in people who are breastfeeding. However, monoclonal antibodies (such as Tezspire) can pass into breast milk. It’s not known what effect this may have on a breastfed child.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your child during Tezspire treatment.

This drug comes with several precautions. Before starting treatment with Tezspire, talk with your doctor about your health history. Tezspire may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:

  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Tezspire or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tezspire. Ask them about other medications that may be better options for you.
  • Helminth infection. If you have or recently had a helminth infection (a parasitic infection caused by worms), tell your doctor. You may need treatment for the infection before you can start Tezspire. If you get a helminth infection during treatment with Tezspire, tell your doctor. They may recommend stopping Tezspire temporarily until the infection is treated.
  • Pregnancy. It’s not known if Tezspire is safe during pregnancy. For more information, see the “Tezspire and pregnancy” section above.
  • Breastfeeding. It’s not known if it’s safe to breastfeed during treatment with Tezspire. For more information, see the “Tezspire and breastfeeding” section above.

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Tezspire, see the “Tezspire side effects” section above.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.