The relationship between allergen immunotherapy and omalizumab for treating asthma.

ABSTRACT

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is considered the only treatment capable of modifying the natural history of allergic respiratory disorders. The possible adverse events related to AIT have, until now, limited its use to mild and controlled asthma. The pre-administration or concomitant treatment of AIT and omalizumab (an anti-IgE humanized antibody), recommended for the treatment of severe allergic asthma, could be useful in reducing the adverse events due to AIT and to allow its use in patients with more severe or uncontrolled asthma. AIT/omalizumab combination has been explored in a few trials on asthma patients and also in other allergic disorders, such as rhinitis, hymenoptera systemic reaction and food allergy with significant results. We are at the beginning a new era where phenotype/endotype-based treatment will be associated with drug mass therapy and/or nonpharmacological phenotype/endotype-driven treatment to optimize disease control and/or to make the use of other treatments safer.