17.01.7 Drug for Allergic Asthma – Omalizumab

Moderate-to-severe allergic asthma is treated with inhaled glucocorticoids. If this does not control the asthma, and there is an allergic component, immunotherapy may be tried. Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody to immunoglobulin E (IgE). Omalizumab combines with IgE to prevent its actions. Thus, omalizumab prevent IgE from promoting mast cell degranulation (release of histamine, leukotrienes etc). This, in turn, reduces the immune response to the allergen to decrease the symptoms of asthma. Omalizumab is not active after oral administration, and is administered subcutanously.