Global Breakthrough Offers Hope for Severe Asthma Sufferers

NAIROBI, KENYA – A landmark international clinical trial has confirmed that a monthly injection of the drug Tezepelumab can dramatically reduce or even completely eliminate the need for daily oral steroid tablets in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma. The findings, published on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, in *The Lancet Respiratory Medicine*, present a significant advancement in asthma care, offering a potential escape from the severe side effects associated with long-term steroid dependency.

The drug, marketed as Tezspire and manufactured by AstraZeneca, was tested in the WAYFINDER trial, led by King's College London. The study involved adults who relied on daily oral corticosteroids to manage their condition. After one year of treatment, more than half of the participants had stopped taking steroids entirely without their asthma flaring up, while nearly 90% had significantly reduced their dosage. This is a critical development, as prolonged steroid use can lead to serious health issues such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and increased infection risk.

The Kenyan Context: A Heavy Burden of Respiratory Disease

This medical breakthrough is particularly relevant for Kenya, where asthma affects an estimated 10% of the population, according to the Ministry of Health's 2021 National Asthma Management Guidelines. For a significant number of Kenyans with severe asthma, oral steroids are a common, albeit hazardous, part of their treatment regimen. The economic strain of managing chronic respiratory diseases is immense. A 2025 study conducted in Meru County revealed that 26% of patients seeking care for such conditions incurred 'catastrophic' health costs, forcing them to use savings or borrow money. Access to appropriate medication remains a persistent challenge, with studies showing that availability for asthma is lower than for other chronic diseases, and many patients overuse oral medications instead of preventative inhalers.

Understanding the Science: How Tezepelumab Works

Tezepelumab is a 'biologic' therapy—a class of drugs derived from living organisms. It is a monoclonal antibody that functions by targeting and blocking thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a key protein that sits at the top of the inflammatory cascade and triggers the airway inflammation characteristic of asthma. By interrupting this process at its source, the drug reduces the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. The treatment was approved for patients aged 12 and older by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2021 and by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in September 2022.

The Reality for Kenyan Patients: A Distant Hope

Despite its proven efficacy, the immediate prospect of Tezepelumab becoming a viable treatment option for Kenyans is remote. Several significant barriers stand in the way, primarily regulatory approval, prohibitive cost, and the readiness of the local healthcare infrastructure.

Regulatory and Availability Status: As of Thursday, 27 November 2025, there is no public record of Tezepelumab being approved by the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board. Its availability in Kenyan hospitals or pharmacies is DETAILS UNCONFIRMED.

Prohibitive Costs and Insurance: Biologic therapies are exceptionally expensive. While local pricing is not available, the international costs would place it far beyond the reach of most Kenyans. Furthermore, it is unclear whether such a high-cost, specialist drug would be covered under the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Recent government publications on the new scheme's benefits package indicate very limited financing for diagnostic tests for asthma, suggesting that expensive, long-term biologic treatments are unlikely to be included in the near future.

Healthcare System Challenges: The effective administration of biologics requires a robust healthcare framework, including specialist pulmonologists, diagnostic capacity to identify eligible patients, and facilities equipped for such treatments. This level of care is primarily available in a few tertiary referral hospitals. While AstraZeneca has an 'Africa PUMUA Initiative' to improve asthma care on the continent, its efforts are focused on strengthening health systems and access to its existing inhaled medicines, not the introduction of new, advanced biologics. The broader challenges of introducing complex biologic therapies into developing nations, from regulatory hurdles to cold-chain storage and high costs, often result in significant delays in access for patients in regions like East Africa.

While the success of Tezepelumab marks a pivotal moment in the global fight against severe asthma, for the thousands of Kenyans who could benefit, it remains a distant prospect. Without concerted efforts to address the triple barriers of approval, affordability, and access, this life-changing medical innovation will likely widen the gap in health equity between developed nations and regions like East Africa.