On Tuesday, a new drug called Exdensur was approved by the FDA. This drug is made by a company called GSK and is expected to help people with severe asthma. GSK thinks this drug could make up to $4 billion in sales each year. Exdensur is the first drug of its kind that only needs to be taken twice a year. It is for people aged 12 and older who have a specific type of severe asthma. The approval comes after another group in Europe also supported the drug for two different uses: severe asthma and a condition called chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. However, the FDA has not approved it for the latter use yet. The FDA’s decision is based on two big studies that showed Exdensur, when added to regular treatment, reduced asthma attacks and hospital visits compared to a placebo. This drug works by targeting a specific protein in the body that causes inflammation. GSK is entering a competitive market with other similar drugs already available. Despite this, they believe Exdensur could become very successful and a new standard treatment for severe asthma. About 2 million Americans have severe asthma, and many of them have attacks that lead to hospitalizations. Even though there are effective treatments, not everyone who needs them gets them. Also, many people stop taking these treatments within the first year. Current treatments often require many doses over a long time, which can be hard to keep up with and can lead to serious problems if not followed properly. A spokesperson from GSK said that the company will announce the price of the drug when it launches in January. They are also talking to the FDA about possibly approving it for the other condition mentioned earlier. This story was updated with comments from a GSK spokesperson.