Voice of the Patient Report: Unmet Needs of Asthma in Childhood

September 20, 2022

“Asthma has truly impacted, not just my life and the way I live every day, but my family’s life and who I am as a person today.”

– Regan Lloyd, 17-year-old living with asthma

To bring the voice of patients and caregivers impacted by asthma in childhood to the forefront of drug development and research, the Allergy & Asthma Network, American Lung Association, American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders, and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America collaborated to produce the Voice of the Patient Report on Asthma in Childhood. The report is part of the Little Airways, Big Voices initiative.

The report highlights what is important to people living with and managing asthma in childhood. It will help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration make decisions as they consider new treatment options. It will also help researchers, clinicians, and drug developers as they consider new areas of research.

Throughout the Little Airways, Big Voices initiative, we heard that people managing asthma in childhood want treatments that reduce asthma symptoms, have fewer side effects, and allow them to participate in more activities.

Now we ask that all stakeholders work together to improve the quality of life for people managing asthma in childhood. Together, we can take steps to improve asthma education, advocacy, research, and drug development.

Your Voice Makes a Difference

Your stories help us raise awareness about asthma in childhood. This includes everyone who participated in the Little Airways, Big Voices externally-led patient-focused drug development meeting on September 20, 2021, submitted written comments, and/or completed our online survey.

Special thanks also to Sanofi, Regeneron, Amgen, and Novartis for sponsoring the Little Airways, Big Voices initiative.

What Is a Voice of the Patient Report?

The FDA established the patient-focused drug development (PFDD) initiative to collect patient insights on specific diseases, including their impact on daily life and treatment options. PFDD meetings are designed to connect patients and caregivers directly with the FDA, as well as researchers and drug developers. Some PFDD meetings are led by the FDA and others are externally led by patient advocacy organizations. The meetings and resulting Voice of the Patient reports help the FDA identify what is important to patients. This includes what people want treatment to look like (apart from a cure).

On September 20, 2021, the Allergy & Asthma Network, American Lung Association, American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders, and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America hosted a virtual externally-led patient-focused drug development meeting about asthma in childhood.

The Voice of the Patient Report on Asthma in Childhood summarizes the findings from that meeting. The report also includes findings from written comments and results from an online survey. The report will help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration make decisions as they consider new treatment options. It will also help researchers, clinicians, and drug developers consider new areas of research.