Omalizumab - An effective anti-IgE treatment for allergic asthma and rhinitis

IgE plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Omalizumab is a humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody that binds to free IgE and prevents its binding to specific receptors on the surface of cells, thus preventing the release of immune mediators. Treatment with omalizumab in patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis results in a rapid and pronounced decrease in serum IgE levels that is correlated with an improvement in the severity of symptoms and in the quality of life of patients. Omalizumab has a good safety profile, with only mild to intermediate drug-related adverse events. (C) 2004 Prous Science. All rights reserved.