Xolair is one of the brand names under which the drug Omalizumab is sold, which is used to treat severe bronchial asthma and chronic hives. Its group is that of monoclonal antibodies and its use is normally complementary, since in acute episodes drugs with much stronger effects are applied. It was introduced to the market after being approved by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency within two years (2003-2005). Norvartis is the laboratory in charge of producing and mass distributing the drug.
Children older than 6 years can start treatment with Xolair, something that was not possible at the initial launch of the drug, since the recommended age was from 12 years. The main disease for which it was designed is asthma, although later it was observed that it brought favorable effects with chronic urticaria in adolescents and adults, so its use is recommended in this case, locating the relevant age range for administration in the 12 years. Similarly, some pharmacological guidelines suggest its inclusion in medications to combat moderate persistent asthma in patients who do not show improvement with the inhalation of other medicinal compounds.
With the addition of Xolair to the treatment of asthmatic adolescents and adults, the need to inhale corticosteroids a large number of times was reduced. This represents a precise improvement in the quality of life of patients, who do not need to depend so much on the aforementioned drug. Its route of administration is subcutaneous, with a dose ranging from 75mg to 600mg in two to four weeks. Side effects are not that common, but if they do occur, they are symptoms such as abdominal pain, headache, and pyrexia.
