Our Respiratory Theme Lead, Prof Ian Pavord explains why we need a sea-change in the way that asthma is diagnosed, categorised and treated. Prof Pavord is co-chair of a special Lancet Commission on asthma, which says that progress in treating the condition has stagnated over the past 10 years, despite recent breakthroughs, such as the use of biomarkers, which can deliver more precise and targeted treatment.