Skip to main content

For questions about financial assistance, call 1-844-DUPIXENT, option 1 or
click to learn more  

Glossary

MEDICAL TERMS AND KEYWORDS

Take a minute to learn about terms associated with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma and DUPIXENT.

  1. A

    • Add-on maintenance

      A medicine added to help a primary treatment succeed.

    • Airway inflammation

      An immune response that can result in increased asthma exacerbations and decreased lung function.

    • Asthma

      ​​​An inflammatory disease of the lungs characterized by (in most cases) reversible airway obstruction.

  2. B

    • Biologic

      A biologic is a type of medicine that is processed in the body differently than inhalers, oral medications (pills), or steroids. It is taken by injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Today, different biologics are used to treat many conditions you may be familiar with.

  3. D

    • DUPIXENT MyWay®

      A program to provide support to patients starting DUPIXENT. Get ongoing, personalized nursing support; help scheduling monthly prescription refills and deliveries; and in-home, in-office, or online supplemental injection training.

  4. E

    • Eosinophilic asthma

      A subtype of asthma that is often severe. It is commonly seen in people who develop asthma in adulthood, although it may occur in children and young adults. 

    • Eosinophils

      Normal type of white blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow and migrate to tissues throughout the body. When a foreign substance invades the body, eosinophils work with other white blood cells to release substances that kill the invader. 

  5. I

    • Immune system

      The defense system that protects your body against harmful substances and invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. The immune system is made up of many different cell types and organs.

    • Inflammation

      Your body’s response to damage caused by bacteria, harmful substances, high temperature, or other factors.

    • Inhaler

      An apparatus for administering medicines by inhalation.

  6. O

    • Oral corticosteroids

      Corticosteroids are man-made drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your adrenal glands produce naturally. They are often referred to by the shortened term “steroids” and are taken by mouth. Steroids reduce the production of chemicals that cause inflammation.

  7. S

    • Specialty pharmacy

      A specialty pharmacy is a state-licensed pharmacy that solely or largely provides only medications for people with serious health conditions requiring complex therapies.

    • Subcutaneous injection

      An injection given underneath the skin.

  8. T

    • Type 2 inflammation

      A type of systemic allergic response that can result in increased asthma exacerbations and decreased lung function.

  9. U

    • Uncontrolled asthma

      A classification of asthma in which, among other factors, patients experience asthma symptoms more than twice a week, have asthma symptoms that wake them up at night, use a rescue inhaler more than twice a week, and have asthma symptoms that restrict daily activities.