Omalizumab is a humanized antibody used to reduce sensitivity to inhaled or ingested allergens, especially in the control of moderate to severe allergic asthma which does not respond to high doses of corticosteroids. Omalizumab is a recombinant DNA-derived humanized IgG1k monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to free human immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the blood and interstitial fluid and to membrane-bound form of IgE (mIgE) on the surface of mIgE-expressing B lymphocytes. Unlike an ordinary anti-IgE antibody, omalizumab does not bind to IgE that is already bound by the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on the surface of mast cells, basophils, and antigen-presenting dendritic cells. IgE is commonly involved in type I hypersensitivity, which manifests the most prevalent allergic diseases.Some allergic individuals have very low serum IgE, and some people with very high IgE have no allergic problems.
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