The use of omalizumab in the treatment of severe allergic asthma: A clinical experience update.
Severe persistent asthma causes a substantial morbidity and mortality burden and is frequently inadequately controlled despite intensive guideline-based therapy. Targeting allergic inflammatory processes that underlie the pathogenesis of severe persistent asthma improves asthma control in a significant proportion of patients. Omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, has been developed to target IgE, which is central to triggering and maintaining allergic airway inflammation. In a comprehensive program of clinical trials, omalizumab has been shown to reduce asthma exacerbation and emergency visit rates, and to improve quality of life in patients with severe persistent allergic asthma. It is difficult to predict which patients would most benefit from omalizumab treatment; accurate selection and dosing of patients are essential to achieve benefit. Patients need to have convincing IgE-mediated asthma and be dosed according to pre-treatment serum total IgE level and body weight, using a specified dosing table. Based on clinical trial data analysis, it is recommended that treatment response is evaluated by the physician after 16 weeks of therapy. Treatment should only be continued in responders, i.e. those judged by the physician to have achieved a marked improvement or complete asthma control. Omalizumab is generally well tolerated. Anaphylactic-like reactions are rare (0.1% of patients) and less common than encountered with other biologics.
Infection, Inflammation and Repair Division, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, D level Centre Block (MP810), Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. s.holgate@soton.ac.uk
Stephen
S
Holgate
Roland
R
Buhl
Jean
J
Bousquet
Nicola
N
Smith
Zoya
Z
Panahloo
Pablo
P
Jimenez
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000069444:Omalizumab; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab; D007073:Immunoglobulin E