Utilidad clínica del omalizumab

Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody with demonstrated clinical effects in patients with allergic asthma and rhinitis. Escalation therapy for asthma is carried out with antiinflammatory drugs, mainly inhaled steroids, together with other treatments that are added to achieve the best possible control of the disease. In some patients, acceptable control cannot be achieved despite high-dose inhaled steroids, even oral steroids. Several clinical trials have demonstrated that omalizumab therapy achieves better control in these patients, reducing the number of acute exacerbations and visits to the emergency department. Likewise, the steroid dose required can be reduced. The percentage of patients that respond to omalizumab therapy is greater among those with the highest risk of morbidity and mortality. In patients who simultaneously present poorly controlled allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis, the drug improves both processes. The latest guidelines and recommendations for the management of asthma already mention its possible indication as additional therapy in difficult to control allergic asthma.