Mapping the global landscape of biologics in allergic diseases: A bibliometric analysis

Allergic diseases represent a significant global health burden. Beyond traditional treatments, which have limitations, biologics provide targeted, effective add-on therapies. However, despite its importance, the research landscape of allergy biologics has not been thoroughly examined.

English publications were collected from Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. After screening, 4141 research articles published between 1981 and 2024 were analyzed using Python, Tableau, and Gephi.

Our results support the growing relevance of biologics in the treatment of allergic diseases. The volume of publications has witnessed a 25-fold increase since 2001. International collaboration has also accelerated substantially since 2015. The United States led in English research output, with the University of California system being the most prolific institution and Novartis as the largest funder. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology was the most cited journal. Simpson, E.L. and Pirozzi, G. were the most prolific and most cited authors, respectively. Keyword analysis revealed four major research clusters: 1) eczema and dupilumab, 2) asthma and omalizumab, 3) severe asthma and biologic, as well as 4) food allergy and monoclonal-antibody. Keyword bursts pinpointed eczema, dupilumab, and upadacitinib as dominant research hotspots as of 2024.

Our study reveals rapid growth in research on allergy biologics, characterized by expanding global collaborations, distinct thematic communities, and emerging topics on targeted therapies for atopic conditions. While the findings primarily reflect trends in English publications, the prominent research themes and patterns provide an informative framework for future research, collaboration, and next-generation therapies.