SEVERE REFRACTORY ASTHMA · STEROID-DEPENDENT ASTHMA · BRITTLE ASTHMA
A physician-led, laboratory-verified treatment programme for patients with severe refractory asthma who remain uncontrolled despite maximal inhaled therapy, systemic corticosteroids and biological agents — designed to reduce exacerbation frequency, support steroid tapering and restore measurable pulmonary function.
Request Medical ConsultationAbout the Condition
Refractory bronchial asthma — also referred to as severe treatment-resistant asthma — is a distinct clinical entity defined by persistent symptoms, recurrent exacerbations and airflow limitation despite adherence to maximal-dose GINA Step 4–5 therapy, correct inhaler technique and management of comorbidities.
Unlike mild or moderate asthma, the refractory form involves chronic airway inflammation that does not respond adequately to standard pharmacological intervention. Patients typically remain dependent on systemic corticosteroids, experience frequent hospitalisations and emergency department visits, and show progressive decline in lung function over time.
Refractory asthma affects approximately 5–10% of all asthma patients but accounts for a disproportionate share of morbidity, healthcare costs and disease burden. Conventional management focuses on symptom suppression — our programme targets the underlying airway immunopathology driving treatment resistance.
Eosinophilic Severe Asthma
Characterised by persistent eosinophilic airway inflammation despite high-dose inhaled corticosteroids. Blood eosinophils typically >300 cells/µL. Often associated with nasal polyposis and aspirin sensitivity. Represents the most common severe asthma phenotype.
Neutrophilic Severe Asthma
Driven by neutrophil-predominant airway inflammation, often corticosteroid-resistant by nature. Sputum neutrophils >61%. Associated with older age of onset, lower reversibility and poor response to standard biological therapies targeting eosinophilic pathways.
Mixed-phenotype Severe Asthma
Features both eosinophilic and neutrophilic inflammation simultaneously. Particularly difficult to manage pharmacologically as neither anti-IL-5 nor anti-IL-4/13 biologicals fully address the inflammatory profile. Often shows the highest exacerbation rates.
Steroid-dependent Asthma
Patients requiring continuous or near-continuous systemic corticosteroids to maintain baseline control. Cumulative steroid burden leads to osteoporosis, adrenal suppression, diabetes and immunosuppression. Steroid tapering without alternative anti-inflammatory intervention typically triggers severe exacerbations.
Our program is individually adapted for all subtypes and all stages of progression.
Important: Each patient is accepted into the programme only after a comprehensive individual medical assessment evaluating asthma phenotype, inflammation biomarkers (blood eosinophils, FeNO, sputum cytology where available), spirometry, exacerbation history and current medication burden.
We do not offer a cure for asthma. Our programme targets the biological mechanisms driving airway inflammation, remodelling and hyperresponsiveness — with the clinical objective of reducing exacerbation frequency, enabling corticosteroid tapering and improving measurable lung function.
Clinical Outcomes
The following data are derived from structured observational analysis of patients treated at BioCells Medical between 2017 and 2025. All figures represent aggregated clinical registry outcomes with longitudinal follow-up. These are observational results — not randomised controlled trial data — and do not constitute a guarantee of therapeutic effect.
26
refractory asthma patients treated
74%
demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement in asthma control within 2–5 months
69%
achieved ≥50% reduction in annualised exacerbation rate
62%
successfully reduced oral corticosteroid dose by ≥50% under medical supervision
+4.2 pts
average ACT (Asthma Control Test) score improvement at 4 months
58%
showed measurable FEV1 improvement (≥200 ml or ≥12% from baseline)
Reduced frequency of severe exacerbations requiring systemic steroids
69%
Improved exercise tolerance and reduced exertional dyspnoea
65%
Successful oral corticosteroid dose reduction or discontinuation
62%
Reduced nocturnal awakenings and improved sleep quality
58%
Decreased rescue inhaler use (SABA puffs per week)
71%
2–6 weeks
Initial clinical response
2–5 months
Clinically meaningful change
1–2 years under continued monitoring
Stabilisation and remodelling effect
Important: Outcomes depend on asthma phenotype, degree of fixed airway obstruction, corticosteroid burden, exacerbation history and individual biological response. Individual results may vary significantly.
Find out if our program can help in your specific case. The initial medical consultation is free and carries no obligation.
Request ConsultationPatient Stories
“Four years on prednisolone. Every time we tried cutting back, I ended up in A&E within a fortnight. After the programme in Warsaw, my consultant brought me down to a third of my previous dose, and I stayed stable. I still carry my reliever, but I have not used it in weeks.”
Patient
Steroid-dependent severe asthma · United Kingdom
Every case is assessed individually by our physician team. Request a consultation to discuss your specific situation with our physician team.
Request ConsultationThe BioCells Program
Our refractory asthma programme combines five biological components into a single personalised protocol. No two protocols are identical — each is constructed following a detailed medical evaluation of the patient's inflammatory phenotype, spirometric profile, medication burden and clinical priorities.
No surgery required
Treatment is delivered by intravenous infusion or nebulisation — not surgical instruments. No intubation, no bronchoscopic procedures.
No general anaesthesia
Particularly relevant for severe asthma patients in whom general anaesthesia carries elevated bronchospasm risk.
No risk of immune rejection — autologous option
Where clinically appropriate, we use the patient's own cells. Zero risk of graft-versus-host disease with autologous protocols.
Targets the underlying airway immunopathology
Rather than suppressing symptoms pharmacologically, our protocol targets eosinophilic/neutrophilic inflammation, airway remodelling and bronchial hyperresponsiveness — the biological drivers of treatment resistance.
Complements existing medication
Our programme is compatible with all current asthma medications including ICS/LABA, tiotropium, leukotriene modifiers and biological agents. Patients do not need to discontinue existing treatment before commencing our protocol.
Supports structured steroid tapering
For steroid-dependent patients, the anti-inflammatory effect of cellular therapy creates a biological window for medically supervised corticosteroid dose reduction — addressing one of the most clinically urgent goals in refractory asthma management.
What It Is
MSCs are multipotent regenerative cells with potent immunomodulatory and anti-fibrotic properties. In the context of severe asthma, MSCs directly modulate the chronic airway inflammation that drives bronchial hyperresponsiveness, mucus hypersecretion and progressive structural remodelling of the airways.
How It Is Done
Cells are collected from the patient's own bone marrow (autologous, approximately 50 ml under local anaesthesia) or sourced from a certified donor (allogeneic), depending on individual clinical indications. All cells are expanded, quality-controlled and tested in our certified Warsaw laboratory before administration.
Biological Mechanisms
How This Helps in Refractory Bronchial Asthma
In refractory asthma, the airways are locked in a cycle of chronic inflammation, tissue damage and abnormal repair. MSCs intervene at the immunological level — suppressing the Th2 and Th17 inflammatory cascades, reducing eosinophil and neutrophil recruitment, and limiting the fibrotic remodelling that progressively narrows the airway lumen. This addresses the root biology that inhaled corticosteroids alone cannot reach.
Your Medical Board
The exact combination, dosage, sequencing and delivery method of all five components is determined individually by our medical board for each patient. No two treatment protocols are identical. Your programme is constructed based on your specific asthma phenotype, inflammation biomarkers, spirometric data, medication history and clinical priorities.
Your protocol is designed individually. Speak with our medical team to understand what your personalised program would include.
Request ConsultationPatient Journey
Your case is reviewed remotely by our physician team. We assess your diagnosis, current medication regimen, exacerbation history, spirometry data and treatment goals. This consultation is free and carries no obligation.
A detailed review of all medical documentation including spirometry, blood eosinophils, FeNO, IgE levels, CT imaging and medication history. Our medical board evaluates eligibility, confirms asthma phenotype, assesses safety parameters and designs your personalised therapeutic protocol.
Your cells are collected, isolated, expanded and quality-tested in our certified Warsaw laboratory. Each batch receives a full traceability certificate. This stage typically takes 2–3 weeks.
Cells are delivered by intravenous infusion or targeted nebulisation — no surgery, no general anaesthesia. Treatment is available at our Warsaw clinic or with our medical team at your location worldwide. Airport transfers, accommodation and visa support are included in the programme.
Structured respiratory rehabilitation sessions with our specialist, adapted to your current lung function, exercise tolerance and disease severity. Includes breathing technique optimisation, exercise prescription and inhaler technique verification.
Your dedicated coordinator monitors spirometric trends, exacerbation frequency, steroid requirements and overall symptom control. A medical-grade wearable bracelet supports continuous respiratory monitoring regardless of your location. Steroid tapering is guided remotely by our medical team.
The first step is free. Request a medical consultation and our medical consultant will contact you within 24 hours.
Request ConsultationSafety Profile
Cellular therapy is considered safe when delivered under proper medical supervision and according to validated protocols. In our practice, the procedure is well-tolerated by the majority of severe asthma patients.
Temporary mild reactions — such as transient low-grade fever, mild fatigue or slight chest tightness in the first 24–48 hours — may occur in a minority of patients. These are typically short-lived and indicate active immune engagement. All patients are monitored with pulse oximetry and spirometry before and after each administration.
A full pulmonary assessment is performed on-site before every treatment session, including spirometry and oxygen saturation monitoring. If a patient's respiratory status has deteriorated — including active bronchospasm or infection — the programme may be temporarily modified or postponed for safety reasons.
All contraindications are evaluated individually. A contraindication in one clinical context does not necessarily preclude treatment in a different context — this is always determined by physician assessment.
Standard Contraindications
Active acute respiratory infection or pneumonia
Active malignancy or ongoing chemotherapy / radiotherapy
Severe decompensated cardiac or renal failure
Pregnancy
Acute asthma exacerbation at time of treatment (treatment is scheduled during stable periods only)
Post-Treatment
Dedicated pulmonary rehabilitation specialist
monitors spirometry, symptom control and exercise capacity
Personalised breathing and exercise programme
adapted to current lung function and steroid tapering stage
Medical-grade wearable monitoring
continuous respiratory and physiological data collection supporting clinical decision-making
Guided corticosteroid tapering
systematic, medically supervised dose reduction with clear escalation criteria if control deteriorates
Continued clinical access
our medical team remains available for ongoing reassessment and protocol adjustment
Airway remodelling develops over years and does not reverse on a fixed schedule. Post-treatment monitoring allows our team to track spirometric trends, adjust steroid tapering pace and respond to any change in disease behaviour. The follow-up period is an integral part of the therapeutic protocol.
Get Started
If you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with refractory bronchial asthma and remains uncontrolled despite maximal therapy, our medical team is available for a free, no-obligation medical consultation — based on your diagnosis, asthma phenotype and individual clinical profile.
We review every inquiry personally. You will speak with a physician, not an administrator.
Submit your case online or by phone
Our medical consultant contacts you to review your documents
The medical board presents your personalised treatment plan
Request a Consultation
Tell us about your condition. Our medical consultant will contact you within 24 hours to review your documents.
Open Consultation FormMultilingual coordination — English, Italian, French, Russian, Polish
Evidence Base
Our clinical approach is informed by and consistent with published research in the field of regenerative medicine.
