Phase III data for omalizumab in the treatment of chronic idiopathic or spontaneous urticaria

Source: NEJM Area: News According to the results of an international, multicentre Phase III study published early online in the New England Journal of Medicine, omalizumab at doses of 150mg and 300mg improved outcomes as reported by patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria who had remained symptomatic despite the use of approved doses of H1-antihistamines.   The authors note that the current first-line treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria (also known as chronic spontaneous urticaria) is with non-sedating H1-antihistamines; however the majority of patients will not have a full response to this and will require further treatments. Current options in this setting (none of which are licensed for this indication) include H2-antihistamines, leukotriene-receptor antagonists, systemic glucocorticoids, and various immunosuppressants.   Omalizumab is a recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody currently licensed as add-on therapy for the treatment of moderate-to-severe persistent ...
Source: NeLM - News - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news