Omalizumab may reduce severe Asthma Exacerbations, finds study

A retrospective, real-world study was performed on 139 patients in the Chest Diseases Department of Strasbourg University Hospital from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2017. The response to omalizumab was assessed at 4, 6, and 12 months after treatment and compared to data collected before omalizumab initiation. 

Results: 

• 44 patients (31.7%) had severe non-atopic asthma and 95 (68.3%) had severe atopic asthma.
• In the non-atopic group, omalizumab significantly reduced the severe exacerbation rate by 44%, 43%, and 54%, at 4, 6 and 12 months, respectively.
• A trend toward improvement in FEV1, asthma control, and oral corticosteroid use was also observed.
• These results were not significantly different from those obtained in atopic asthmatics except for a more effective oral corticosteroid sparing in the atopic group (p < 0.05).
• Similar reduction of severe exacerbation rates was observed in the T2-low asthma subgroup (non-atopic, non-eosinophilic). 

Thus, the researchers concluded that Omalizumab was effective in severe asthma, regardless of atopic status. 

For the full article, click here: 10.1080/02770903.2022.2103427 

Melscoet L, Khayath N, Migueres N, Goltzene MA, Meyer N, de Blay F. Severe non-atopic asthma: omalizumab can reduce severe asthma exacerbations [published online ahead of print, 2022 Jul 21]. J Asthma. 2022;1-10.