For a study, it was determined that omalizumab was a humanized monoclonal antibody used to treat moderate to severe allergic asthma in children and adults over the age of 12. Many adult studies have proven that it is a safe medicine. Adult clinical studies demonstrated that omalizumab improved clinical outcomes for patients, however, there was little data on its usage in children. More research on the usage of omalizumab in the pediatric population was required. The researchers sought to analyze the limited pediatric literature and compare it to a retrospective record analysis of children patients with moderate to severe allergic asthma who were on omalizumab at a tertiary pulmonary clinic.
A study of current pediatric trials was compared to a retrospective chart analysis of all Xolair (omalizumab) (n=13) patients prescribed between 2003 and 2010. Recent pediatric trials revealed a decrease in prednisolone use, an improvement in the Asthma Control Test, an increase in the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and a clinically significant decrease in asthma exacerbations.
There was a clinically meaningful drop in the number of hospital days and a trend in the number of emergency room visits in the retrospective study. In terms of lung function, there was no clinically meaningful difference. There were some negative replies. Recent pediatric trials found that omalizumab improved the overall health of children with asthma, but additional research is needed.
