Effect of omalizumab on the need for rescue systemic corticosteroid treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe persistent IgE-mediated allergic asthma: a pooled analysis

Abstract

Background: Allergic asthma is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated disease characterized by frequent exacerbations following exposure to relevant allergens that leads to the development of chronic airway inflammation. Omalizumab, an anti-IgE antibody, reduces asthma exacerbation and hospitalization rates in patients with IgE-mediated allergic asthma. We investigated the effect of omalizumab on asthma outcomes in a retrospective pooled analysis of data from phase III clinical trials in patients (≥ 12 years) with moderate-to-severe persistent IgE-mediated allergic asthma.Methods: Systemic corticosteroid bursts and physician and patient overall assessments of asthma control were assessed in patients who received add-on omalizumab or current asthma therapy (control). The association of physician and patient overall assessments with the number of steroid bursts were also evaluated.Results: The analysis encompassed 4308 patients with moderate-to-severe persistent IgE-mediated allergic asthma (93% met GIN...