#85 - Navigating Biologic Therapy: What You Need to Know

Starting biologic therapy can be life-changing, but navigating the process isn’t always easy.

Dr. William Anderson joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to break down the essential steps for starting biologic therapy, covering everything you need to know before beginning treatment. Biologics are at the forefront of managing chronic allergic diseases like asthma and eczema, offering targeted, personalized care that can improve patients’ quality of life. However, accessing these medications often requires navigating a maze of insurance approvals, prior authorizations, and specialty pharmacies.

We dive deep into the challenges patients face when starting biologics—understanding how to get coverage, managing co-pays, and coordinating with specialty pharmacies, all while handling the logistics of administering the medication. As someone who has just started a biologic herself, Kortney shares her own experience and reflects on how this episode provides the exact information she wished she’d had a few months ago.

What we cover in our episode about starting a biologic medication

• Getting informed before starting biologic therapy: Dr. Anderson explains why reviewing your medication’s patient website is a great first step. These resources often include videos and important details about the treatment.
• Navigating insurance and coverage: Insurance is often the biggest hurdle to starting biologics. Dr. Anderson highlights the role your doctor plays in this. Additionally, we discuss the importance of understanding your coverage, prior authorization, and working with specialty pharmacies to ensure you get the medication.
• Administration and storage of biologics: Whether it’s self-injection or infusion at a clinic, we explain how biologics are administered. Dr. Anderson also provides tips on proper storage, including refrigeration and traveling with biologics.
• Vaccines and biologics: Find out whether patients on biologic therapy should avoid live vaccines and how inactivated vaccines like the flu shot are generally safe to take.
• Long-term planning for biologics: Learn about the regular follow-ups and monitoring that are part of managing biologic therapy. Dr. Anderson discusses the importance of staying on track with your doses and follow-up appointments to ensure your biologic works effectively.

About our biologics expert, Dr. William Anderson

Dr. William Anderson, is a board-certified pediatric allergist and immunologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. With a focus on treating children with complex allergic conditions such as asthma, eczema, and food allergies, Dr. Anderson is known for his patient-centered approach. He has extensive experience in biologic therapies and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients through personalized care. Dr. Anderson also actively participates in clinical research, staying at the forefront of advances in allergy and immunology treatments.

More resources about biologic therapies and the conditions they treat: 

• A systematic review and expert Delphi Consensus recommendation on the use of vaccines in patients receiving dupilumab: A position paper of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
• Biologic Medications Overview
• Understanding Asthma
• Allergies Explained
• Managing Food Allergies
• Understanding Eczema
• What if I Can’t Afford My Eczema Medication?
• What if I Can’t Afford My Asthma Medication?

This podcast is made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network. Thanks to Sanofi-Regeneron for sponsoring today’s episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.