Omalizumab - A window into asthma therapy in the 21st century?

Omalizumab - A window into asthma therapy in the 21st century?

Sarat Susarla, MD

A recent publication in the New England Journal of Medicine provides evidence that seems to confirm what many lung and asthma specialists have suspected for years. Asthma treatment may hopefully one day surpass the current gold standard therapy - inhaled corticosteroids. Xolair (Omalizumab) is one such therapy that treats asthma by blocking the activity of the body's own allergic antibody, IgE. However, this therapy is costly, and there may be many subtypes of asthma in children that will not respond to this treatment.