Omalizumab for the treatment of severe allergic asthma

Abstract

Omalizumab is the first of a new generation of targeted asthma therapies. This monoclonal antibody against IgE is now licensed for use in atopic asthma. The majority of asthmatics are well controlled with conventional therapies. However, there remains a cohort of patients with severe refractory asthma, despite currently available treatments (∼5–10% of asthmatics), which account for approximately 50% of direct expenditure on asthma care. This article examines the evidence for both clinical and cost–effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with severe asthma and gives a 5-year view on the likely role of omalizumab in clinical practice.

Keywords::

• asthma
• IgE
• omalizumab

Financial & competing interests disclosure

KF Chung has participated in clinical trials of omalizumab, been renumerated for participation at Advisory board meetings for Novartis, and received educational grants for attending respiratory conferences from Novartis. He has also been renumerated for participation at Advisory board meetings for GSK, Trinity-Chiesi, Gilead and Merck to discuss treatment for asthma and COPD. A Menzies-Gow has received fees from Novartis as a paid member of an advisory board and for providing educational lectures. The authors have no other relevant affiliations of financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No external writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.