An evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of omalizumab for the treatment of severe allergic asthma

Omalizumab is the first licensed anti-immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibody shown to be effective for treatment of allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma. Recent international guidelines recommend omalizumab as add-on treatment to fixed dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta(2)-agonist (LABA) combination therapy. However, omalizumab is more expensive than other current asthma treatments and health and reimbursement authorities are increasingly demanding evidence of economic benefit to support pricing and formulary listing. The aims of this article are to (i) summarize data on the human and economic burden of severe asthma, (ii) summarize the efficacy data obtained for omalizumab in clinical trials in patients with inadequately controlled severe persistent allergic asthma despite high-dose ICS plus a LABA, and (iii) discuss the cost-effectiveness evidence published for omalizumab in this patient population. A wealth of evidence exists highlighting that the health, economic and societal burden of asthma is considerable and is highly skewed towards patients with severe asthma, particularly when asthma is inadequately controlled. Omalizumab is clinically beneficial in patients with severe persistent allergic asthma despite high-dose ICS plus a LABA, particularly in a subgroup of patients who respond to therapy. In patients who respond to therapy, the cost-effectiveness of omalizumab compares well with other biologic treatments for chronic illness.