Research on the Use of Omalizumab

New research suggests that subcutaneous omalizumab (brand names Xolair, Genentech / Novartis) may be a safe and effective an add-on treatment to corticosteroids for moderate to severe asthma in children and adults.Researchers from Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile performed a meta-analysis on eight trials where 1,883 patients received omalizumab and 1,546 received a placebo. At the end of the steroid reduction phase, patients taking omalizumab were more likely to have corticosteroids withdrawn completely compared with those taking placebo.Furthermore, patients taking omalizumab showed a decreased risk for asthma exacerbations at the end of stable and adjustable-steroid phase. The frequency of serious adverse events effects was similar between both groups, and there were no indications of increased risk of hypersensitivity reactions, cardiovascular effects, and malignant neoplasms.This article is published in the January issue of Chest, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians: Chest 2011; 139(1):28-35.