[Unmet need in asthma management and future treatment options]

Despite health initiatives and extensive guideline efforts for advancing the management of asthma, evidence from epidemiologic studies suggests, that many asthma patients still have uncontrolled disease. The percentage of the uncontrolled disease stage is highly prevalent and eventually succeeds the 50 % range depending on the disease severity. There is urgent need for improved care particularly in moderate as well as in severe asthma. Implementation of treatment plans, the focus on symptom control, better patient-caretaker communication and most importantly improvement of specific treatment options are the cornerstones for success. Tiotropium, the first long-term antimuscarinic compound, was approved for asthma treatment in 2014, new developed inhaled corticosteroids as well as β2-mimetics and inhaler types will enhance the physician's armamentarium to treat this disease better. Agents aimed at inhibiting cytokines, such as mepoluzimab, daclizumab, reslizumab and others hold to various degree promise in the treatment of asthma. Other agents under investigation include phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitors and oligonucleotides. In summary, there is future promise for substantial therapeutic advances in moderate and severe persistent asthma.