sharing an article -- Novartis Says Xolair Reduces Asthma Attacks

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http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/499527?src=mp

Novartis Says Xolair Reduces Asthma Attacks

ZURICH (Reuters) Feb 15 - Novartis' asthma medication Xolair

significantly reduced the number of asthma attacks and almost halved

the rate of emergency visits in seven clinical studies, according to

the company.

Xolair reduced the rate of asthma attacks by 38% compared with a

control group, while the number of emergency visits was 47% lower

for Xolair patients.

More than 4300 patients with severe asthma took part in the studies,

drugmaker Novartis said on Tuesday. The data showed that the

response to Xolair was even more pronounced in individuals known to

be at greatest risk of asthma-related death.

Xolair treats the underlying cause of asthma triggered by allergies

rather than the symptoms that inhaled corticosteroids address.

Unlike the inhalers, however, the drug must be injected.

About 15 million people worldwide are estimated to have severe

persistent asthma, with 1 in every 250 deaths worldwide attributed

to asthma-related causes.

About 33,000 patients have been referred for Xolair treatment in the

United States since its launch there in July 2003. The treatment,

which is also licensed in Australia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand and

Venezuela, has been filed for approval in the European Union.