As a sufferer of allergies and asthma, I am very interested in knowing when this drug will be approved, and whether what I read is just a lot of hype. What makes it so revolutionary is that it acts to stop an allergic reaction even before it has a chance to start. Allergies occur when the immune system mounts an exaggerated defense against harmless substances such as pollen, grasses, mold or pet dander. IgE antibodies search for receptors on mast cells - immune system cells located in the nasal passages and bronchial passages. When IgE latches onto receptors on mast cells, the cells burst open, triggering an irreversible allergic cascade, something akin to disturbing a beehive.
Mast cells release histamine and all sorts of inflammation-promoting substances.
Anti-histamines such as Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra, Tavist and Benadryl are well known to help quiet unpleasant allergic symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing fits. Inhaled or nasal steroids bring down inflammation in the lungs or nose caused by substances released from mast cells. Bronchodilators such as Ventolin and Proventil relax the tightened smooth muscle cells of the airway. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Singulair and Accolate are akin to Motrin for the lungs. But they're nowhere near as effective as an IgE blocker drug could be.