XOLAIR® FOR ASTHMA

Xolair® (omalizumab, Genentech) is a fairly recent and exciting advance in the treatment of moderate to severe allergic asthma.  Xolair is an antibody that is injected into an asthma patient that binds to and inactivates the molecule responsible for triggering allergic asthma attacks.

People with allergies and allergic asthma produce large amounts of a molecule call Immunoglobulin E (IgE).  When these people are exposed to a substance that they are allergic to (e.g., cats, dust mites, pollen), the IgE in their blood binds to that substance and initiates an allergic reaction that can cause symptoms in any part of the body.  In patients with allergic asthma, the allergic reaction often involves the lungs and may produce a severe asthma attack.

Standard asthma medications are typically quite effective in the majority of patients but, in some patients with moderate to severe asthma, these medications are not sufficient to prevent the allergic asthma attacks.  Xolair is used to block the IgE molecule and prevent the allergic reaction.  It has been shown in many research studies to improve asthma symptoms and prevent severe attacks.

Xolair is currently approved for patients 12 years old and older who have allergic asthma that is not controlled with current asthma medications.  Xolair is administered using a subcutaneous injection (just under the skin) once every 2 to 4 weeks and must be administered in a doctor’s office.