DRUG: Xolair

Xolair is a drug used to treat asthma that is approved by the FDA. This drug uses a monoclonal antibody which means that it is man-made and is created from B-cells that have been cloned and bind only to one type of antigen. This is important in the testing of drugs to determine if a drug works or not. These specific antibodies are copied and injected into patients to treat specific disease. According to mednet website, in terms of Xolair, the monoclonal antibody used is Omalizumab used to treat asthma.

In allergen responses, antibodies attach to the receptors on mast cells and basophils in the blood. They then release chemicals that can cause an allergy response and produce inflammation. Omalizumab blocks the antibody receptors (IgEFcR) on the surface of mast cells and basophils in order to prevent the IgE antibodies from attaching. These cells do not release chemicals and the allergenic response is not initiated. Since, asthma symptoms are often initiated in patients by allergies, Xolair is able to bind to these receptors and prevent the asthma attacks.

Side Effects of the drug:

• headaches,
• viral infections,
• upper respiratory tract infections,
• injection-site reactions such as
  • pain,
  • redness,
  • swelling,
  • itching and
  • bruising.

Use of Xolair may also lead to serious, life-threatening allergic reactions that include difficulty breathing, fainting, low blood pressure, and swelling of the tongue or throat.

You should not take Xolair if you have cancer as it could cause it to worsen. If you have a parasitic worm infection, it could increase risk of adverse side effects. Because the IgE antibodies are also responsible for Helman destruction if infected. By covering their binding sites with Xolair, you may be unable to fight off any parasitic infections inside your mast cells and basophils that would normally be destroyed by IL4 cytokine.

Also acute asthma symptoms are not improved with Xolair. If you are allergic to latex, you should not use the prefilled syringes as they contain a form of latex. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it could be potentially dangerous to you or your child.

This drug is in assistance with acquired immunity as it involves the IgE response to allergens after the primary exposure. The mast cells and basophils that have IgEFcR on their surface are what cause the production of an allergen response when the antibody binds. But this drug is able to prevent that by already binding antibodies to those receptors.