Omalizumab
/api/v1/drug/omalizumabBoxed warning
ANAPHYLAXIS Anaphylaxis presenting as bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, and/or angioedema of the throat or tongue, has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR. Anaphylaxis has occurred as early as after the first dose of XOLAIR, but also has occurred beyond 1 year after beginning regularly administered treatment. Because of the risk of anaphylaxis, initiate XOLAIR therapy in a healthcare setting and closely observe patients for an appropriate period of time after XOLAIR administration. Health care providers administering XOLAIR should be prepared to manage anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and instruct them to seek immediate medical care should symptoms occur. Selection of patients for self-administration of XOLAIR should be based on criteria to mitigate risk from anaphylaxis [see Dosage and Administration (2.6) , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Adverse Reactions (6.1 , 6.2) ] . WARNING: ANAPHYLAXIS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Anaphylaxis, presenting as bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, and/or angioedema of the throat or tongue, has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR. Anaphylaxis has occurred after the first dose of XOLAIR but also has occurred beyond 1 year after beginning treatment.
Mechanism of action
Sourced from openFDAAsthma, Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps, and IgE-Mediated Food Allergy Omalizumab inhibits the binding of IgE to the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on the surface of mast cells, basophils, and dendritic cells, resulting in FcεRI down-regulation on these cells. In allergic asthmatics, treatment with omalizumab inhibits IgE-mediated inflammation, as evidenced by reduced blood and tissue eosinophils and reduced inflammatory mediators, including IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13.
Indications
Sourced from openFDA- XOLAIR is an anti-IgE antibody indicated for: Moderate to severe persistent asthma in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with a positive skin test or in vitro reactivity to a perennial aeroallergen and symptoms that are inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids ( 1.1 ) Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in adult patients 18 years of age and older with inadequate response to nasal corticosteroids, as add-on maintenance treatment ( 1.2 ) IgE-mediated food allergy in adult and pediatric patients aged 1 year and older for the reduction of allergic reactions (Type I), including anaphylaxis, that may occur with accidental exposure to one or more foods. To be used in conjunction with food allergen avoidance ( 1.3 ) Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment ( 1.4 ) Limitations of Use : Not indicated for acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus.ICD-10: J45.909
Contraindications
Sourced from openFDA- XOLAIR is contraindicated in patients with severe hypersensitivity reaction to XOLAIR or any ingredient of XOLAIR [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] .contraindicated
Dosage & administration
Sourced from openFDAFor subcutaneous (SC) administration only. ( 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.4 , 2.5 ) See full prescribing information for administration instructions ( 2.6 , 2.7 , 2.8 ). Asthma : XOLAIR 75 to 375 mg SC every 2 or 4 weeks. Determine dose (mg) and dosing frequency by serum total IgE level (IU/mL), measured before the start of treatment, and body weight (kg). See the dose determination charts. ( 2.2 ) Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps : XOLAIR 75 to 600 mg SC every 2 or 4 weeks. Determine dose (mg) and dosing frequency by serum total IgE level (IU/mL), measured before the start of treatment, and body weight (kg). See the dose determination charts. ( 2.3 ) IgE-Mediated Food Allergy : XOLAIR 75 mg to 600 mg SC every 2 or 4 weeks. Determine dose (mg) and dosing frequency by serum total IgE level (IU/mL), measured before the start of treatment, and body weight (kg). See the dose determination chart. ( 2.4 ) Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria : XOLAIR 150 or 300 mg SC every 4 weeks. Dosing in CSU is not dependent on serum IgE level or body weight. ( 2.5 ) 2.1 Overview of Dosage Determination Asthma, and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps, and IgE-Mediated Food Allergy Determine dosage of XOLAIR by serum total IgE level (IU/mL) measured before the start of treatment, and by body weight (kg). For patients with asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and IgE-mediated food allergy, dosage determination should be based on the primary diagnosis for which XOLAIR is being prescribed. Adjust doses for significant changes in body weight during treatment.
Warnings & precautions
Sourced from openFDAAnaphylaxis: Initiate XOLAIR therapy in a healthcare setting prepared to manage anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening and observe patients for an appropriate period of time after administration. ( 5.1 ) Malignancy: Malignancies have been observed in clinical studies. ( 5.2 ) Acute Asthma Symptoms: Do not use for the treatment of acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus. ( 5.3 ) Corticosteroid Reduction: Do not abruptly discontinue corticosteroids upon initiation of XOLAIR therapy. ( 5.4 ) Eosinophilic Conditions: Be alert to eosinophilia, vasculitic rash, worsening pulmonary symptoms, cardiac complications, and/or neuropathy, especially upon reduction of oral corticosteroids. ( 5.5 ) Fever, Arthralgia, and Rash: Stop XOLAIR if patients develop signs and symptoms similar to serum sickness. ( 5.6 ) Potential Medication Error Related to Emergency Treatment of Anaphylaxis: XOLAIR should not be used for emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. ( 5.9 ) 5.1 Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR in premarketing clinical trials and in postmarketing spontaneous reports [see Boxed Warning and Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . Signs and symptoms in these reported cases have included bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, and/or angioedema of the throat or tongue. Some of these events have been life-threatening. In premarketing clinical trials in patients with asthma, anaphylaxis was reported in 3 of 3507 (0.1%) patients.
Adverse reactions
Sourced from openFDAThe following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Anaphylaxis [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Malignancies [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Asthma : The most common adverse reactions (≥ 1% of patients) in clinical studies with adult and adolescent patients ≥12 years of age were arthralgia, pain (general), leg pain, fatigue, dizziness, fracture, arm pain, pruritus, dermatitis, and earache. In clinical studies with pediatric patients 6 to <12 years of age, the most common adverse reactions (≥3% of patients) were nasopharyngitis, headache, pyrexia, upper abdominal pain, pharyngitis streptococcal, otitis media, viral gastroenteritis, arthropod bites, and epistaxis. ( 6.1 ) Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps : The most common adverse reactions (≥ 3% of patients) in clinical studies with adult patients included the following: headache, injection site reaction, arthralgia, upper abdominal pain, and dizziness. ( 6.1 ) IgE-Mediated Food Allergy : The most common adverse reactions (≥3% of patients) were injection site reactions and pyrexia. ( 6.1 ) Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria : The most common adverse reactions (≥2% of patients) included the following: nausea, nasopharyngitis, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infection, viral upper respiratory tract infection, arthralgia, headache, and cough. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Genentech at 1-888-835-2555 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Use in specific populations
Sourced from openFDA8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary A registry study of XOLAIR exposure during pregnancy showed no increase in the rate of major birth defects or miscarriage. There was an increased rate of low birth weight among registry infants compared to infants in the other cohorts, despite average gestational age at birth; however, women taking XOLAIR during pregnancy also had more severe asthma, which makes it difficult to determine whether the low birth weight is due to the drug or the disease severity [see Data ] . There are risks associated with poorly or moderately controlled asthma in pregnancy [see Clinical Considerations ] . Human IgG antibodies are known to cross the placental barrier; therefore, XOLAIR may be transmitted from the mother to the developing fetus. In animal reproduction studies, no evidence of fetal harm was observed in Cynomolgus monkeys with subcutaneous doses of omalizumab up to approximately 5 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) [see Data ] . The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population(s) is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the US general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Pharmacokinetics
Sourced from openFDA- Metabolism
- After SC administration, omalizumab was absorbed with an average absolute bioavailability of 62%. Following a single SC dose in adult and adolescent patients with asthma, omalizumab was absorbed slowly, reaching peak serum concentrations after an average of 7–8 days.
Approval history
Sourced from openFDA- Jun 20, 2003BLABLA103976Genentech
FAERS reports
- 1Asthma11,89314%
- 2Urticaria10,85513%
- 3No Adverse Event10,55213%
- 4Off Label Use10,29713%
- 5Dyspnoea10,11112%
- 6Drug Ineffective8,0329.8%
- 7Cough6,9298.4%
- 8Pruritus6,1237.4%
- 9Fatigue5,9567.2%
- 10Malaise5,5756.8%
- 11Wheezing5,4086.6%
- 12Headache5,3286.5%
- 13Pneumonia5,1496.3%
- 14Pain4,2775.2%
- 15Anaphylactic Reaction4,1755.1%
Literature
Recent PubMed references pinned to Omalizumab as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Dupilumab after sequential omalizumab and benralizumab failure in T2-high asthma-COPD overlap: A case report.Allergologia et immunopathologia · 2026 · Seren OT, Güçlü AO, Kocabaş ME, et al.PMID 42115803DOI 10.15586/aei.v54i3.1566
- Effect of age on omalizumab response in chronic urticaria: a retrospective comparison between adult and geriatric populations.Allergologia et immunopathologia · 2026 · Kolak S, Çölkesen F, Gerek ME, et al.PMID 42115788DOI 10.15586/aei.v54i3.1591
- Cytokine imbalance and immune network endotypes underlying heterogeneous response to omalizumab in chronic spontaneous urticaria.Frontiers in immunology · 2026 · Ye YM, Lee HY, Jang JH, et al.PMID 42088522DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1783483
- Follow-up after discontinuation of omalizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma: A systematic review.Allergy and asthma proceedings · 2026 · Yan QL, Zhang LY, Niu WS, et al.PMID 42050841DOI 10.2500/aap.2026.47.260016
- Omalizumab Therapy Results in Defined Behavioural Changes and Improvements in Quality of Life in Solar Urticaria.Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine · 2026 · Parkin D, Marjanovic EJ, Farrar MD, et al.PMID 41962134DOI 10.1111/phpp.70088
- [Use of Omalizumab-biosimilars for CRSwNP in the German Health Care System - a Position Paper of the German Societies for Allergy AeDA and ORL DGHNO-KHC].Laryngo- rhino- otologie · 2026 · Klimek L, Bärhold F, Förster-Ruhrmann U, et al.PMID 41926944DOI 10.1055/a-2797-4119
- A functional cell model using basophil activation test to study molecular mechanisms and biomarkers of response to omalizumab treatment in patients with asthma.Frontiers in immunology · 2026 · Gole B, Goričan L, Jezernik G, et al.PMID 41836414DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1744735
- Effectiveness and Safety of Omalizumab in the Adjuvant Treatment of Patients With Refractory Acute Urticaria: A Real-World Case-Control Study.Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology · 2026 · Zhu M, Xie B, Pei X, et al.PMID 41819533DOI 10.1111/1440-1681.70117
Clinical trials
The 10 most recently updated of 254 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Omalizumab as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.
- Biologics in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal PolyposisRecruiting · Phase 4 · Interventional · 504 enrolled · Medical University of South CarolinaNCT06824649updated 2026-06-09
- Omalizumab for the Treatment of Food Allergy in Patients With Elevated Total IgE LevelsRecruiting · Phase 2 · Interventional · 32 enrolled · Johns Hopkins UniversityNCT06934200updated 2026-06-08
- Phase 3b Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Remibrutinib in Comparison to Placebo, With Omalizumab as Active Control, in Adult CSU Patients, Followed by an Open-label 52-week Optional Extension.Active not recruiting · Phase 3 · Interventional · 470 enrolled · Novartis PharmaceuticalsNCT06042478updated 2026-06-03
- A Study of Xolair in Peanut-Allergic Subjects Previously Enrolled in Study Q2788gCompleted · Phase 2 · Interventional · 11 enrolled · Genentech, Inc.NCT00382148updated 2026-06-02
- Clinical Study Using Biologics to Improve Multi OIT Outcomes (COMBINE)Completed · Phase 2 · Interventional · 130 enrolled · Stanford UniversityNCT03679676updated 2026-05-29
- Regulatory Post-Marketing Surveillance of Xolair® for Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal PolypsCompleted · Observational · 135 enrolled · Novartis PharmaceuticalsNCT05626257updated 2026-05-29
- Taiwan Severe Asthma Biologic RegistryRecruiting · Observational · 500 enrolled · Taichung Veterans General HospitalNCT06456450updated 2026-05-19
- To Compare Efficacy and Safety of CMAB007 and Xolair® in Patients With Chronic Spontaneous UrticariaActive not recruiting · Phase 3 · Interventional · 392 enrolled · Taizhou Mabtech Pharmaceutical Co.,LtdNCT06365879updated 2026-05-08
- BIOlogics in Severe Nasal POlyposis SurvEyActive not recruiting · Observational · 100 enrolled · University Hospital, LilleNCT05228041updated 2026-04-29
- Multi OIT to Test Immune Markers After Minimum Maintenance DoseCompleted · Phase 2 · Interventional · 60 enrolled · Andrew Long, PharmDNCT03181009updated 2026-04-27
Frequently asked questions
- How does Omalizumab work?
- Asthma, Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps, and IgE-Mediated Food Allergy Omalizumab inhibits the binding of IgE to the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on the surface of mast cells, basophils, and dendritic cells, resulting in FcεRI down-regulation on these cells. In allergic asthmatics, treatment with omalizumab inhibits IgE-mediated inflammation, as evidenced by reduced blood and tissue eosinophils and reduced inflammatory mediators, including IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13.
- What is Omalizumab used for?
- According to FDA labeling, Omalizumab carries indications including: XOLAIR is an anti-IgE antibody indicated for: Moderate to severe persistent asthma in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with a positive skin test or in vitro reactivity to a perennial aeroallergen and symptoms that are inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids ( 1.1 ) Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in adult patients 18 years of age and older with inadequate response to nasal corticosteroids, as add-on maintenance treatment ( 1.2 ) IgE-mediated food allergy in adult and pediatric patients aged 1 year and older for the reduction of allergic reactions (Type I), including anaphylaxis, that may occur with accidental exposure to one or more foods. To be used in conjunction with food allergen avoidance ( 1.3 ) Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment ( 1.4 ) Limitations of Use : Not indicated for acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus.. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
- What class of drug is Omalizumab?
- Omalizumab is classified as Other systemic drugs for obstructive airway diseases, Anti-IgE, IgE-directed Antibody Interactions, Decreased IgE Activity.
- What are the brand names for Omalizumab?
- Omalizumab is marketed under brand names including Omlyclo, Xolair.
- What are the contraindications for Omalizumab?
- Omalizumab labeling lists contraindications including: XOLAIR is contraindicated in patients with severe hypersensitivity reaction to XOLAIR or any ingredient of XOLAIR [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] .. Always consult the full prescribing information and a clinician.
omalizumab is illustrative MVP content compiled from public sources. pharmacopeia is for educational and informational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.