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Omalizumab Research Paper

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Omalliizumab is the only Monoclonal Antibody that currently has been found to be effective and approved by both the FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for the treatment of difficult allergic asthma. Approved by FDA in 2003, omalizumab was used for adults and adults age more than 12 years old. Omalizumab suitable to be used when the patient symptoms are not be able controlled by inhaled corticosteroids. This medication is introduced to the patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma. However to use omalizumab, patients must have a positive skin test result or in vitro reactivity to a perennial. Patients should have immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels between 30 and 700 IU and should not weigh more than 150 kg. Omalizumab act by reducing the serum levels of free immunoglobulin E. This is a humanized murine IgG antibody against the Fc component of the IgE …show more content…

Adverse effects are rare and include upper respiratory infection symptoms, headache, urticaria (2%) without anaphylaxis, and anaphylaxis (0.1% in studies and 0.2% in postmarketing surveillance). Transient thrombocytopenia has also been noted but not in humans. Antibodies are formed against the anti-IgE antibody, but these do not appear to cause immune complex deposition or other significant problems. To date, decreased IgE levels have not been shown to inhibit one’s ability to fight infection (including parasites). Registration trials raised a question of increased risk of malignancy, but this has not been seen in the postmarketing data. Omalizumab is given by subcutaneous injection every 2-4 weeks based on initial serum IgE level and body weight. Patients are usually treated for a trial period lasting at least 12 weeks. Costs may be $6,110 to $36,600 annually, so omalizumab is a second-line therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe persistent allergic asthma that is not fully controlled on standard therapy.

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