What is the number of patients that need to be treated (NNT) with omalizumab to prevent one hospitalization for asthma exacerbation?The number needed to treat (benefit) (NNTB) is 33.
In a recent meta-analysis, during the stable-steroid phase, the asthma exacerbation rate was lower in the omalizumab group (RR, 0.57, NNTB, 10). There were significantly fewer hospitalizations from asthma exacerbation in the omalizumab group (RR, 0.44; NNTB, 33).
Patients treated with omalizumab were more likely to withdraw from corticosteroid treatment completely vs the placebo group (RR, 1.80; NNTB, 5). A higher proportion in the omalizumab group was able to reduce corticosteroid dosage by 50% or more (RR, 1.34; NNTB, 5).
Severe asthma - differential diagnosis and management (click to enlarge the image). Related: Common Asthma-related Comorbidities. Medscape, 2011, (figure) http://j.mp/omHVc6
References:
Efficacy and safety of subcutaneous omalizumab vs placebo as add-on therapy to corticosteroids for children and adults with asthma: a systematic review. Rodrigo GJ, Neffen H, Castro-Rodriguez JA. Chest. 2011 Jan;139(1):28-35.
Humanized Monoclonal Antibody May Be Effective, Safe in Asthma Patients. Medscape, 2011.
"Super-omalizumab" new monoclonal XmAb7195 has 5-fold higher affinity for IgE, 400-fold higher affinity for FcγRIIb. JACI, 2012.
Omalizumab in children with severe persistent asthma uncontrolled on standard therapy - AAAAI Ask the Expert answers: http://goo.gl/rpxTX
Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.
