Anti-Immunoglobulin E Treatment with Omalizumab in Allergic Diseases an Update on Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Clinical Efficacy

Omalizumab is recently developed monoclonal anti-IgE antibody. Clinical trials have demonstrated its efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe and severe or poorly controlled allergic asthma, in patients with seasonal and perennial allergic disease and in subjects with concomitant asthma and allergic rhinitis. Patients with more severe asthma appear to obtain the greatest benefit from omalizumab therapy. Omalizumab is well tolerated and has a good safety profile. Anti-inflammatory activity has been shown in both allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis [1,2]. Omalizumab is not a firstline therapy in asthmatic patients. FDA (Food and Drug Administration ) approved omalizumab use in June of 2003 for patients satisfying the following criteria (all must be present): 1- total IgE concentration in serum 30-700 klU L. 2- skin test positive for at least one perennial allergen; 3- specific IgE concentration positive for at least one perennial allergen (house dust mite, cat and dog); 4- asthma: moderate to severe persistent asthma; 5- age: > 12 years; 6- inadequate control despite inhaled corticosteroids