Safety and tolerability of omalizumab

Background Omalizumab (Xolair^®) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody with proven efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe and severe persistent allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma.
Objective To review clinical study data to assess the safety profile of omalizumab.
Methods We analysed the safety of omalizumab using data from completed clinical studies (up to 1 year) involving more than 7500 patients with asthma, rhinitis or related conditions and up to 4 years in one study of patients with severe allergic asthma, as well as post-marketing safety data. Analysis focuses on the risk of immune-system effects, hypersensitivity reactions, malignant neoplasia, parasitic infections and thrombocytopenia.
Results Omalizumab exhibited a good safety and tolerability profile that was maintained up to 4 years in one study. The incidence of anaphylaxis was 0.14% in omalizumab-treated patients and 0.07% in control patients. No omalizumab-treated patient developed measurable anti-omalizumab antibodies. Post-marketing, based on estimated exposure of 57 300 patients (June 2003–December 2006), the frequency of anaphylaxis attributed to omalizumab use was estimated to be at least 0.2% of patients. Current clinical trial data do not support an increased risk of malignant neoplasia or thrombocytopenia with omalizumab.
Conclusion Data indicate that the proven efficacy of add-on omalizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe or severe allergic asthma is accompanied by a favourable safety and tolerability profile.