Two decades with omalizumab: what we still have to learn

Abstract

Cristoforo Incorvaia,1 Marina Mauro,2 Elena Makri,1 Gualtiero Leo,3 Erminia Ridolo4 1Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation, ASST Pini/CTO, Milan, Italy; 2Allergy Department, Sant’Anna Hospital, Como, Italy; 3Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Vittore Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Milan, Italy; 4Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy Abstract: From its availability for clinical use nearly two decades ago for severe asthma, omalizumab has gained strong evidence of efficacy and safety in the treatment of severe asthma not controlled by standard-of-care therapy. It has been acknowledged by Global Initiative on Asthma guidelines as add-on therapy against severe uncontrolled asthma. Thanks to controlled trials supporting its efficacy, omalizumab has also been licensed for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria. The optimal duration of treatment in either disease has not been established. Despite its high price, omalizumab appears to be cost-effective in severe uncontrolled asthma as well as in chronic urticaria. The literature suggests a wide range of applications for omalizumab in various disorders regardless of allergic or non-allergic pathophysiology. Keywords: anti-IgE antibody, omalizumab, severe asthma, chronic spontaneous urticaria, efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness

Keywords

• anti-IgE antibody
• omalizumab
• severe asthma
• chronic spontaneous urticaria
• efficacy
• safety
• cost-effectiveness