Reduction of Exacerbations by Baseline Indicators of Asthma Severity in Children Receiving Omalizumab

Purpose: During the 24-week inhaled steroid dose-stable phase of a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial in children ≥6 to < 12 years old with inadequately controlled, moderate-to-severe, allergic asthma, clinically significant asthma exacerbation rates were reduced by 31% (p=0.007) with omalizumab (75-375 mg every 2 or 4 weeks) versus placebo. We previously showed that baseline blood eosinophil count is a predictive biomarker for omalizumab response in these children and have further extended these …