Each May, Lupus Awareness Month and Asthma Awareness Month create a moment to reflect on the impact of these diseases, honor the lived experiences and powerful stories of patients, and reaffirm a shared commitment to advancing their care. Improving outcomes begins with patient-first innovation. This time brings an important opportunity not only to give a platform for these patients, but also to spotlight the work that positively impacts their care.
Centering Progress Around Patients
Across the US, people are living with conditions that affect the respiratory and immune systems, including asthma and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with asthma affecting millions and SLE affecting hundreds of thousands.1,2 These diseases often present with symptoms that can disrupt daily life, often limiting the ability to do daily tasks, such as attending work and school.3,4 Despite scientific research and therapeutic advancements, many patients still face challenges accessing appropriate healthcare and treatment. Addressing these gaps requires a continued focus on innovation, paired with a deep understanding of the patient experience.
By integrating scientific progress with real-world insights, AstraZeneca is advancing a more connected, proactive, and personalized approach to patient care. One designed to help people with asthma and lupus achieve better outcomes.
This year, I had my one-year anniversary of having no asthma exacerbations…I truly believe I’ve gotten my life back. I’m looking forward to the future.
Enabling Better Asthma Control
For the nearly 27 million Americans living with asthma, many still experience asthma exacerbations and emergency room visits.1,5 Access to evidence‑based asthma care and education may help patients have better control over their asthma.6
Treatment options for asthma have expanded and include controller medications, rescue inhalers and targeted biologic therapies for patients with asthma of varying severities.7,8 Building on this progress, a continued focus on earlier diagnosis, patient education and equitable access to care can help ensure these therapies reach more asthma patients in need.9,10
A lot of people misunderstand the disease.
Advancing Earlier Diagnosis and Targeted Care for SLE
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, affects more than 200,000 people in the US and is often complex, with its unpredictable manifestations, and often difficult to manage due to its varied biological and clinical nature.2,11 Without timely diagnosis and treatment, patients are at risk of serious complications affecting multiple organs, including the kidneys, heart and central nervous system.12
Innovation is helping to change the trajectory of lupus care. Advancements in biologic therapies offer patients an opportunity to reduce disease activity and reliance on chronic corticosteroid use, which has been linked to increased risk of adverse long-term outcomes.13-15
Over time, I’ve learned how to manage my lupus. Now I know I’m stronger than I thought, and that gives me confidence for whatever comes next.
AstraZeneca’s Commitment to All Patients
As we recognize Lupus Awareness Month and Asthma Awareness Month, we must also commit to the continued work that needs to be done to ensure asthma and SLE patients have access to proper care and that they are consistently held to the center of innovation.
At AstraZeneca, advancing care in respiratory and immunology is rooted in one core belief. Scientific innovation must translate into meaningful impact for patients. AstraZeneca is committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation to redefine treatment. Our work is driven by improving outcomes for patients, including helping enable earlier and more accurate diagnoses, advancing precision medicines and expanding access to biologics and next-gen therapies across respiratory and immune-mediated conditions. By working closely with key patient communities, AstraZeneca is focused on ensuring their voices are heard and that innovations in care truly reflect their needs and experiences.
References
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most Recent Asthma Data. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma-data/about/most-recent-asthma-data.html
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with Lupus. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/data-research/index.html
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of Lupus. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/signs-symptoms/index.html
4. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. My Life with Asthma: Survey Overview. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/my-life-with-asthma-in-2017-survey-findings-report.pdf
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2022 Emergency Department Summary Tables. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhamcs/web_tables/2022-nhamcs-ed-web-tables.pdf
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moving the Needle on Asthma Control: Examining Content, Promising Practices, and Innovation. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/national-asthma-control-program/media/pdfs/2024/05/Moving_the_Needle_Asthma_Control-508.pdf
7. Mayo Clinic. Asthma. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369660
8. Global Initiative for Asthma. 2025 GINA Strategy Report: Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://ginasthma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GINA-2025-Update-25_11_08-WMS.pdf
9. Al-Muhsen S, Horanieh N, Dulgom S, et al. Poor asthma education and medication compliance are associated with increased emergency department visits by asthmatic children. Ann Thorac Med. 2015;10(2):123-131. doi:10.4103/1817-1737.150735.
10. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma Capitals: The Most Challenging Places to Live With Asthma 2025. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/aafa-2025-asthma-capitals-report.pdf
11. Lupus Foundation of America. 2024. What is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)? Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.lupus.org/resources/what-is-systemic-lupus-erythematosus-sle
12. Arnaud L, Tektonidou MG. Long-term outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: trends over time and major contributors. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020;59(Suppl5):v29-v38.
13. Fanouriakis A, Kostopoulou M, Andersen J, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus: 2023 update. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024;83(1):15-29.
14. Sammaritano LR, Askanase A, Bermas BL, et al. 2025 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Guideline for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published online November 3, 2025.
15. Sullivan JK, Littlejohn EA. Utilization of glucocorticoids among White and Black patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Observations from the enrollment visit of a prospective registry. Lupus. 2021;30(14):2298-2303.