Anti-IgE--emerging opportunities for Omalizumab.

INTRODUCTION

Omalizumab is a recombinant DNA-derived humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to free and membrane-bound immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. Omalizumab has been licensed for use in severe allergic asthma. A search on the website clinicaltrials.gov reveals there are currently 109 clinical trials with Omalizumab of which 46 are for conditions other than asthma.

AREAS COVERED: In addition to asthma, Omalizumab has been investigated in various other conditions including perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR), peanut allergy, latex allergy, atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria (CU), idiopathic anaphylaxis, mastocytosis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis and nasal polyposis. This review aims to look at the various randomised and non-randomised clinical trials, case series and case reports for the role of Omalizumab in conditions other than asthma. Numerous clinical trials have shown a positive light on the role of Omalizumab in conditions other than asthma.

EXPERT OPINION: We feel that the future of Omalizumab would include a more diverse range of clinical conditions, and future trials should not only look into the clinical usefulness but also the economic impact of using this interesting molecule.