Omalizumab

BOSTON — Symptoms improved with mepolizumab after treatment with omalizumab failed for a patient with asthma who developed allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, according to a poster presented at the CHEST Annual Meeting.

BOSTON — Physicians should consider delayed hypersensitivity reactions such as serum sickness when patients experience symptoms during biologic treatment, according to a poster presented at the CHEST Annual Meeting.

Patients with severe asthma and small airways disease did not respond as well to omalizumab treatment, according to a poster presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.

SAN ANTONIO — Patients with urticaria who do not respond to omalizumab have other options for treatment, David A. Khan, MD, said during the 16th Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology CME Conference.

SAN ANTONIO — How good are home allergy tests? Should patients pause biologic treatment before oral food challenges? Is it possible to stop pediatricians from ordering so many food panels? Is skin prick testing needed before OFCs?

Omalizumab is effective and safe for the treatment of chronic urticaria, demonstrating high discontinuation due to well-controlled disease, according to a study.

Researchers traced childhood illnesses like asthma, frequent head colds and tonsilitis to the development of chronic rhinosinusitis in middle age in a population-based study.

In February, the FDA approved omalizumab for the reduction of food allergic reactions. First approved in 2003 for allergic asthma, this anti-IgE monoclonal antibody developed by Genentech and Novartis inhibits the allergic reaction process.

SAN DIEGO — Patients with severe asthma experienced fewer exacerbations with 6 months of treatments with biologics, according to a study presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.