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Review
. 2005 Jan 27;7(1):27.

Omalizumab: a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody

Paul P Belliveau  1
Affiliations
Review

Omalizumab: a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody

Paul P Belliveau. MedGenMed. .

Abstract

Objectives: To describe allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis pathophysiology and review the pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, efficacy, and safety data for omalizumab.

Methods: MEDLINE, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, and EMBASE Drugs & Pharmacology were searched using olizumab, omalizumab, E25, rhuMAb-E25, and anti-IgE. Combinations of rhinitis, asthma, and IgE captured information on disease pathophysiology.

Results: Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the high-affinity receptor binding site on human immunoglobulin (Ig)E. Bound IgE is not available for basophil binding, degranulation is attenuated, and allergic symptoms are reduced. In asthma trials, omalizumab reduced inhaled corticosteroid and rescue medication requirements and improved asthma control and asthma quality of life in moderate to severe allergic asthmatics with disease poorly controlled by inhaled corticosteroids. In trials of patients with poorly controlled moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), omalizumab reduced the severity of exacerbations and rescue medication use, and improved rhinitis-related quality of life. Benefits were also observed in trials utilizing combinations of immunotherapy and omalizumab for SAR and in trials of perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). Omalizumab has been well tolerated. Although malignant neoplasms have been observed in treated patients, they were likely not related to omalizumab therapy.

Conclusions: Omalizumab has demonstrated efficacy in children, adults, and adolescents with uncontrolled moderate to severe allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis. Long-term safety beyond 52 weeks needs continued evaluation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Graphic representation of IgE binding to Fc-epsilon-RI on a mast cell. Binding occurs with IgE “lying on its side,” producing a conformational change in the unbound Fc-epsilon-RI binding site and precluding binding by omalizumab.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Graphic representation of omalizumab. The black areas of the Fab portion represent the complementarity-determining regions transplanted from the murine monoclonal antibody MAE11.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Graphic representation of immune complexes formed between omalizumab and IgE. The hexamer is predominant when components are present in a 1:1 molar ratio; the trimers predominate when one of the components is in excess of the other.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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