Donate
Call the Lung HelpLine
Ask a Question
The following text field filters the results that follow as you type. Use Tab to access the results.
  1. Home
  2. Lung Health & Diseases
  3. Lung Disease Lookup
  4. COPD
  5. Treatment
  6. COPD Medications
  7. Treating COPD with Biologics

Treating COPD with Biologics

Biologic medications target your immune system and can help treat Type 2 inflammation in COPD.
Older male patient talking to a male healthcare provider Older male patient talking to a male healthcare provider

Biologics are a type of medication that helps people living with COPD improve their symptoms and lung function by targeting the overactive immune system. 

Key Points:

  • Biologics differ from conventional drugs because they are made from living organisms vs chemicals and target the biologic processes in your body rather than just the symptoms.
  • Before you are prescribed a biologic medication, your healthcare provider will order a blood test to measure the level of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell.
  • Biologic medications are an injectable and added to your current treatment plan. 

About Type 2 Inflammation in COPD

When you have COPD, you have chronic or long-term inflammation or swelling in the airways. This inflammation causes your airways to become narrower, making it harder to get air out of your lungs.

You may have an allergic type of inflammation, called Type 2, caused by an overactive immune system. When your immune system overreacts to an exposure like allergens or triggers, it releases eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. Eosinophils help protect you from infections, but too many cause more breathing-related symptoms, exacerbations or flare ups and can lower your lung function.

What are biologic medications?

A medication is called a biologic when it is made from living sources, such as cells, tissue or yeast. Biologic medications are often used for serious or harder to treat conditions that may not respond to traditional medications or treatments. Biologics are used to treat moderate to severe COPD, severe asthma, and certain types of cancer. Insulin is another example of biologic medication. 

How do biologic medications work for COPD? 

Biologics work differently than your inhaled or oral COPD medications. They target the part of your immune system that causes Type 2 inflammation and help lower your eosinophil levels. This is an injectable medication and added to your current treatment plan.  There are two FDA-approved medications to treat the Type 2 inflammation in COPD.

This medication is a subcutaneous, under the skin, injection and given every two weeks at home or at your provider’s office.

This medication is a subcutaneous, under the skin, injection and can be given every four weeks at home or at your provider’s office.

Who is eligible?

Not everyone will benefit from biologic medication. Before a biologic medication is recommended, your healthcare provider will order a blood test to check your blood eosinophil levels and determine if you have Type 2 inflammation. Your healthcare provider may recommend biologic medications, if you have:

  • high levels of blood eosinophils
  • moderate to severe COPD
  • exacerbations, despite being on optimal treatment

What are the benefits and risks?

If you have Type 2 inflammation, biologics can help:

  • reduce your flareups or exacerbations
  • improve your lung function
  • improve your quality of life

Each medication has side effects but some of the more common ones include injection site reactions, allergic reactions, headache, back pain and diarrhea.

Page last updated: May 29, 2026

Tobacco Basics
, | Jun 24, 2026 LUNG FORCE Walk - Cleveland
Cleveland, OH | Sep 27, 2026
See All Events