Conditions: Allergic Asthma
Keywords: Allergic Asthma, IgE, immunotherapy, omalizumab
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 275
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This study is designed to investigate the use of omalizumab as a pretreatment for patients with persistent allergic asthma who are candidates for allergen immunotherapy (ie, allergy shots) and will test the hypothesis that omalizumab may reduce the rate of systemic reactions to immunotherapy in patients with persistent allergic asthma.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: The dose of placebo was determined according to the omalizumab US product label using a dosing table nomogram that ensures patients receive at least 0.016 mg/kg/IgE (IU/ml) per 4 weeks. The study drug was administered by subcutaneous injection every 2 or 4 weeks according to the dosing table nomogram. arm 2: The dose of omalizumab was determined according to the omalizumab US product label using a dosing table nomogram that ensures patients receive at least 0.016 mg/kg/IgE (IU/ml) per 4 weeks. The study drug was administered by subcutaneous injection every 2 or 4 weeks according to the dosing table nomogram.

Interventions: intervention 1: Placebo intervention 2: Omalizumab intervention 3: Immunotherapy intervention 4: Immunotherapy
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Doses of placebo were administered subcutaneously every 2 to 4 weeks according to the US product label, depending on the patient's body weight and baseline serum IgE. intervention 2: Doses of omalizumab were administered subcutaneously every 2 to 4 weeks according to the US product label, depending on the patient's body weight and baseline serum IgE. intervention 3: Customized allergen extracts were prepared centrally for each patient based on his/her specific skin test results. Four vials containing dilutions of the patient's extract were provided. Investigators initiated dosing according to the protocol for the cluster dosing titration regimen, beginning with vial #4 (the most dilute) and progressing to vial #1, which was the most concentrated or "maintenance" solution. Each dose was administered subcutaneously into the deltoid region as a single injection. During study visits that required multiple IT injections, each injection was to be given at least 30 minutes apart. During weeks that required multiple visits for IT injections, each visit was to be separated by at least 48 hours. intervention 4: Customized allergen extracts were prepared centrally for each patient based on his/her specific skin test results. Four vials containing dilutions of the patient's extract were provided. Investigators initiated dosing according to the protocol for the cluster dosing titration regimen, beginning with vial #4 (the most dilute) and progressing to vial #1, which was the most concentrated or "maintenance" solution. Each dose was administered subcutaneously into the deltoid region as a single injection. During study visits that required multiple IT injections, each injection was to be given at least 30 minutes apart. During weeks that required multiple visits for IT injections, each visit was to be separated by at least 48 hours.

Protocol document: