Inpharma 1311 - 27 Oct 2001

Omalizumab improves symptomcontrol in allergic asthma

The anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodyomalizumab* improves symptom control and reducescorticosteroid requirements in patients with allergicasthma, according to a multinational group ofresearchers.

In their double-blind study, 546 such patients, whowere symptomatic despite the use of inhaledcorticosteroids (beclomethasone dipropionate500–1200 µg/day) were randomised to receive SComalizumab** or placebo every 2 or 4 weeks for 7months.† Beclomethasone dosage was maintained overthe first 16 weeks, then gradually reduced to the lowestlevel required for asthma control over the next 8 weeks,with the dosage being maintained at this lower level for afurther 4 weeks.

Compared with placebo recipients, omalizumab-treated patients experienced 58% fewer exacerbations(0.28 vs 0.66 per patient) during the stable-steroid phaseand 52% fewer exacerbations (0.36 vs 0.75 per patient)during the steroid-reduction phase, despite a greaterreduction in steroid dosage in the treated group (finalmedian dosage 100 vs 300 µg/day). 43% of omalizumabversus 19% of placebo recipients were able todiscontinue beclomethasone completely.* Genentech, Novartis, Tanox; preregistration for allergic asthma andallergic rhinitis** Dosage of omalizumab was ≥ 0.016 mg/kg bodyweight per IU ofbaseline serum IgE/ml. Dosage frequency was determined by the sizeof the dose.† The study was supported by Novartis Pharma, Switzerland andGenentech, US.

Soler M, et al. The anti-IgE antibody omalizumab reduces exacerbations andsteroid requirement in allergic asthmatics. European Respiratory Journal 18:254-261, Aug 2001 800880912

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Inpharma 27 Oct 2001 No. 13111173-8324/10/1311-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved