Pharmacological strategies for targeting platelet activation in asthma

•Platelet activation is causal to the inflammatory responses in asthma.•A dichotomy in platelet activation exists that separates functionalities in haemostasis to host defence and inflammation.•Current anti-platelet drugs have been tested for anti-inflammatory actions in the context of asthma.•New approaches targeting platelet activation applicable to inflammation might provide novel anti-platelet drugs for asthma.