Xolair has been FDA approved for the reduction of allergic reactions in children as young as one. Credit: michellegibson via Getty Images.
Xolairis and Roche’s Xolair (omalizumab) has securallergic reactionshe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat multiple food allergy reactions, just two months after the FDA granted the drug a priority review. Novartiss a mRocheonaXolairboomalizumabhibits immunoglobulin E (IgE), fUS Food and Drug Administration (FDA)ergic asthma, and hfood allergya market leader in that indication eveFDAince. With the latest approval, the therapy can now be used to treat people with immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergies, a classification that includes foods such as peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, cashew nuts, hazelnut, or walnut. XolairA’s decision is based on results from thimmunoglobulin E (IgE)tudy (NCT03881696), investigating theallergic asthmaicacy of Xolair in patients ages one to 55. The trial, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, met its primary endpoint – significantly increasing the(IgE)-mediated food allergiescause an allergic reaction compared to placebo. The secondary endpoint of increasing the amount of milk, egg, and cashew it took to cause an allergic reaction compared to placebo was also reached. In tFDAstudy, 68% of patients who received Xolair for 16 to 20 weeks were able to tolerate at least 600 mg of peanut protein – equivalent to roughly two peanuts – without experiencing moderateNational Institutes of Health compared to 5% of those treated with placebo. Detailed results from the study will be presenteallergic reactiont the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting on 25 February 2024.allergic reaction However, despite this expanded use, a direct significant rise in revenues may not be on the horizon. While Roche reported $2.47bn in revenues for Xolair in 2023, according to GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center, sales of Xolair are forecast to drop to $1.6bn in 2029. This is due to an expected influx of biosimilars following the pateAmerican Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)Asthmand November 2025 in the US. One of those biosimilar competitors is Alvotech, which signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Kashiv Biosciences to develop a biosimilar to Xolair, AVT23, in October 2023. The drug is currently in Phase III (NCT05774639) clinical development, set to conclude at the end of this year.
As a treatment for asthma, Xolair is administered subcutaneously once every two or four weeks, depending on body weight and total serum IgE level. The therapy is not indicated for emergency use of allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis.
In the announcement accompanying the apAlvotechchief medical officer at Roche Levi Garraway said: “TKashiv Biosciencesilds on 20 years of patient experienAVT23d an established efficacy and safety profile since Xolair was first approved in allergic asthma. We look forward to bringing this treatment to the food allergy community who have long awaited an advancement.”