(American Thoracic Society) -- Phase II and Phase III clinical trial results for anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody confirm that it is an effective treatment for patients with symptomatic moderate to severe allergic asthma, according to an expert writing in the second issue for October of the ATS peer-reviewed journal.

William W. Busse, M.D., Professor of Medicine, University of Wisconsin.Medical School, Madison, points out that the clinical trials have shown that the administration of the anti-IgE, called omalizumab, is associated with fewer asthma exacerbations per patient despite a significant reduction in their corticosteroid dose.

Also, the new compound has provided stable symptom control in spite of reductions in rescue-medication use, and has upgraded the quality of life scores of patients as compared with those on placebo.

According to Dr. Busse, IgE-mediated events play an important role in the inflammatory processes that are believed to underlie the symptoms of allergic asthma. A highly specific monoclonal antibody was developed that binds to circulating IgE and prevents it from making contact with receptors on effector cells.

About the clinical studies of this anti-IgE, Dr. Busse said: "Collectively, these results provide convincing evidence that omalizumab is efficacious and safe for the treatment of asthma."

The article appears in the second issue for October of the ATS peer-reviewed American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.