Omalizumab (trade name Xolair, Genentech / Novartis) is a humanized antibody approved for patients with moderate-to-severe or severe allergic asthma. Omalizumab's cost is high, ranging from $6000-$24000 a year and hence omalizumab is mainly prescribed for patients with severe, persistent asthma, which cannot be controlled even with high doses of corticosteroids. Like other protein and antibody drugs, omalizumab causes anaphylaxis (a life-threaten...
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Omalizumab (trade name Xolair, Genentech / Novartis) is a humanized antibody approved for patients with moderate-to-severe or severe allergic asthma. Omalizumab's cost is high, ranging from $6000-$24000 a year and hence omalizumab is mainly prescribed for patients with severe, persistent asthma, which cannot be controlled even with high doses of corticosteroids. Like other protein and antibody drugs, omalizumab causes anaphylaxis (a life-threatening systemic allergic reaction) in 1 to 2 patients per 1,000.
Omalizumab is a recombinant DNA-derived humanized IgG1k monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to human immunoglobulin E (IgE). IgE is commonly involved with allergies when present in high amounts in the body.
The primary use of omalizumab is for people with moderate to severe, persistent allergic asthma, uncontrollable with corticosteroids. The efficacy is more evident among severe asthmatics than among those with moderately severe disease. The response rates among treated...
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