Xolair (omalizumab) brings new hope for severe asthma sufferers

The launch of a new drug to treat asthma has given new hope to people with severe asthma.

The new drug is designed to target the cause of the attacks and has just been approved for use in the UK.

Xolair (omalizumab) is given as an injection to severe asthma sufferers every two to four weeks.

The drug blocks the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is involved in the allergic process in asthma, and it is designed as an additional treatment for patients who suffer from severe, persistent allergic asthma that cannot be controlled with standard therapy.

Already trials have shown that it can reduce hospital admission for asthma patients by nearly half (47%), and can also reduce asthma attacks in severely affected patients by 55%.

Around 5.2 million people in the UK are affected by asthma but for as many as 500,000 their symptoms cannot be controlled by existing therapies.

The result is more asthma attacks and more hospital admissions.

While 69,000 are admitted to hospital,1,400 people die from the condition each year in the UK, which has one of the highest hospital admission and mortality rates for asthma in Europe.

Approval for the use of Xolair was given in the USA in 2003 and has already been licensed in several other countries including Australia, Canada and Brazil.

The drug, developed by drug manufacturer Novartis, is recommended for patients with persistent allergic asthma who have severe problems such as reduced lung function, despite using high dose inhaled treatments.

Many experts, charities and doctors regard the drug as a breakthrough in the treatment of difficult to control asthma, where patients can be at significant risk of asthma-related death and regular hospital admission.