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Omalizumab
Aka: Omalizumab, rhuMAb-E25
- Indications (all required)
- Refractory moderate to Severe Persistent Asthma
- Positive Allergy Testing for perennial inhaled allergen
- Patients must be age 12 years or over
- Mechanism
- Recombinant humanized Monoclonal Antibody (rhu-MAB)
- Blocks IgE binding to mast cells and Basophils
- Prevents release of Allergic Reaction mediators
- Adverse effects
- Serious and life-threatening
- May predispose to malignancy
- Anaphylaxis
- Requires administration in clinical setting
- Reaction may occur within 2 hours of injection
- Other reactions
- Injection site reaction
- Upper Respiratory Infections (including Sinusitis)
- Headache
- Efficacy
- Appears to be very effective in first year of use
- Cost
- Dose dependent
- Varies from $500 to over $3000 for one month supply
- Dosing
- Dose determined by serum IgE level
- Usually 150 to 375 mg SQ every 2-4 weeks
- Must be given in clinical setting with observation
- References
- Finn (2003) J Allergy Clin Immunol 111:278-84