Unsplash Photo by: (Akram Huseyn)
VIENNA, AUSTRIA [TAC] — A new blood test could revolutionize how asthma is treated, offering a precise, effective, and affordable path to relief for millions of patients.
Researchers from Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems) and the Medical University of Vienna (MedUni Vienna) have developed a molecular allergy chip that identifies the root cause of asthma in a large majority of cases, opening the door to a proven, cost-effective therapy.
The study, published on September 1, 2025, reveals that the newly developed test can detect allergic asthma in individual patients. When applied to samples from the large-scale LEAD (Lung, hEart, sociAl, boDy) cohort, the chip showed that more than 70% of participants with asthma had a sensitivity to specific airborne allergens. For these patients, a targeted and well-established treatment already exists: allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT).
Globally, asthma affects an estimated 300 million people, and most are currently treated with broad, symptomatic medications like inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators. While these help manage symptoms, they do not address the underlying cause of the disease.
In recent years, new, expensive biologics have become available for some severe cases, raising concerns about the long-term affordability of asthma care. The new asthma chip, developed by a team led by Dr. Huey-Jy Huang at KL Krems, offers a different path forward.
The chip contains 63 purified allergen molecules from common sources such as pollen, dust mites, molds and animal dander or microscopic flecks of skin that remain suspended in the air for long periods.
This molecular approach provides a clear allergy profile, unlike traditional tests that can sometimes produce unclear results due to cross-reactions.
“These results show that a large share of adult asthma patients has allergic asthma—and that we can identify them quickly and precisely,” said Prof. Rudolf Valenta from MedUni Vienna and senior co-author of the study. “This is important because allergic asthma can be treated causally, not just symptomatically.”
Allergen-specific immunotherapy works by gradually desensitizing the immune system to the specific allergens that cause symptoms. When based on a precise diagnosis, AIT can significantly reduce asthma attacks and improve long-term outcomes for patients.
The researchers believe this diagnostic tool could be particularly valuable for younger patients, as early intervention has the potential to alter the course of their disease. As the prevalence of asthma continues to rise and healthcare systems face increasing financial pressure, tools that enable more precise treatment are urgently needed.
“We hope this diagnostic approach will find its way into routine clinical practice,” Valenta added. “It could allow many patients to benefit from an effective, affordable form of immunotherapy and help reduce the unnecessary use of costly biologics.”
