• Are 12 years of age and above
• Have moderate to severe persistent asthma. This means they have 1 or more of the following:
  • Asthma symptoms every day
  • Daily need for a rescue inhaler
  • 2 or more asthma attacks a week
  • 1 or more nights a week waking up with asthma symptoms
  • A below-normal reading (less than 80%) from a tool called a peak flow meter, which measures how well the lungs work.
• Have asthma that is triggered by year-round allergens in the air, which is confirmed by a doctor using a skin or blood test. This is known as allergic asthma.
• Continue to have asthma symptoms even though they are taking inhaled steroids.

Adding Xolair injections to treatment with inhaled steroids has been clinically proven to help reduce the number of asthma attacks. Xolair has not been proven to work in other allergic conditions.

Xolair is a new kind of treatment that works in a way that’s totally different from the asthma medicines you’re taking now. If you are taking inhaled steroids yet continue to have asthma attacks and symptoms, Xolair may be able to help.

Please read the information in this article carefully, and call our office about any questions you may have.

Xolair is not a rescue medicine and should not be used to treat sudden asthma atrtacks. It is not a substitute for the medicines you are already taking.

What is allergic asthma?
What is IgE?
What makes Xolair different?
What can Xolair mean for you?
Does Xolair have any serious side effects?
Who should not receive Xolair?
What other important safety information should you know about?
What are the other possible side effects of Xolair?
How is Xolair given?
How often is Xolair given?
How quickly does Xolair work?
Can you take Xolair with your current medications?
What should you do if you have an asthma attack?
Is Xolair available at local pharmacies?
Is Xolair covered by insurance?
Need additional information?

What is allergic asthma?

Allergic asthma is how doctors describe a particular type of asthma. In people with this common condition, certain types of allergens can trigger asthma attacks and symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 60% of the people with asthma in the United States have allergic asthma.

You probably know about many of the things that can trigger your asthma. Cat or dog dander, dust mites, and cockroaches are common examples of year-round allergens. What you may not know is how something as simple as visiting a friend who has a pet can lead to an asthma attack. The reason, in part, is a body chemical called IgE.

What is IgE?

IgE is short for Immunoglobulin E. This substance, which occurs naturally in your body in small amounts, plays an important role in allergic asthma. If you have allergic asthma, your body makes more IgE when you breathe in an allergen. This can cause a series of chemical reactions known as the “allergic-inflammatory process in allergic asthma” (see page 7). It can result in 2 things:

• The muscles that surround your airways begin to tighten. This is known as constriction of the airways.
• Your airways become irritated and swell up. This is known as inflammation of the airways.

What makes Xolair different?

Xolair is the first IgE blocker for moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma

Xolair acts early in the allergic-inflammatory process in people with allergic asthma. Xolair works by helping to block IgE from causing the reactions that can lead to asthma attacks and symptoms.

What can Xolair mean for you?

If you still have asthma symptoms even though you are taking inhaled steroids, Xolair helps reduce the number of asthma attacks.

In 2 clinical trials, Xolair was studied in over 1000 people with moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma. All patients continued to take inhaled steroids during the study. About half of them were also given Xolair, while the other half received placebo (an injection with no active medicine).

Not all patients in these studies had asthma attacks. But among those who did, patients taking Xolair:

• Had fewer asthma attacks
• Had fewer asthma attacks even as their doctor reduced their inhaled steroid dose
• Saw an improvement in nighttime, daytime, and total asthma symptom scores (the patient benefit of these improved symptom scores is unclear)

Does Xolair have any serious side effects?

• In clinical studies, 0.5% of patients receiving Xolair developed cancer, compared with 0.2% of patients receiving placebo injections. Several different types were seen. Please discuss this information with our office.
• In clinical studies, some patients had a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This was rare, occurring in less than 0.1% of patients.
  • Anaphylaxis quickly causes symptoms such as rash, itching, and swelling of the tongue and throat, which can make it hard to breathe and can be life threatening.
  • If you think you are having an anaphylactic reaction, get medical attention right away

Who should not receive Xolair?

Do not take Xolair if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

What other important safety information should you know about?

Never suddenly stop taking, or change the dose of, your inhaled steroids or other asthma medicine you are taking unless our office tells you to do so.

What are the other possible side effects of Xolair?

The most common side effects in patients who received Xolair in clinical studies are listed below. This is not a complete list of all side effects reported with Xolair.

• Injection-site reaction (45%)
• Viral infections (23%)
• Upper respiratory tract infection (20%)
• Sinusitis (16%)
• Headache (15%)
• Sore throat (11%)

How is Xolair given?

Xolair is a subcutaneous injection. That means it is injected just under the skin.

How often is Xolair given?

Xolair is given once every 2 or 4 weeks. Your dose will be determined by your IgE level, which we will measure with a simple blood test, and your body weight. Based on your dose, we will also tell you if you will need 1, 2, or 3 injections per dose. If you need more than 1 injection, each will be given in a different place on your body.

Because it is a controller or maintenance medicine, you will receive Xolair on a regular schedule. It is important that you continue to receive your Xolair injections even when you are feeling well.

How quickly does Xolair work?

It is important to understand that you may not see immediate improvement in your asthma after Xolair treatment begins. It takes time for the medicine to work. So if you don’t feel a difference right away, it doesn’t mean that Xolair is not working. It is important to continue your Xolair injections until you doctor tells you otherwise.

Can you take Xolair with your current medicines?

Xolair is approved for use in patients who are already taking inhaled steroids. As with all medicines, be sure to tell our office about any medicines you are taking for your asthma or any other condition, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, and herbal supplements.

What should you do if you have an asthma attack?

If you have a sudden asthma attack, take your rescue medicine as prescribed by our office and seek medical attention right away.

Is Xolair available at local pharmacies?

Xolair is delivered by authorized Specialty Pharmacies to our office. Or, you may have Xolair delivered to your home to bring with you to your next appointment.

Specialty Pharmacies have experience with drugs that require special handling and packaging. They make sure that you get the proper supply of Xolair along with everything needed for injection. Specialty Pharmacies also provide educational and support services to help you get the most out of your treatment with Xolair.

Is Xolair covered by insurance?

Coverage and reimbursement for prescription medicines like Xolair depend on your insurance plan. Your Specialty Pharmacy will work with our office staff to find out if your plan covers Xolair. They will notify us of your benefit status by phone and follow up with a letter telling you your co-pay and other information.

Need additional information?

With Xolair, help is just a phone call away! Your Specialty Pharmacy will assign a personal representative who can answer any questions you may have. Or you can call us directly at 1-866-4-XOLAIR (1-866-496-5247) or visit our website at www.xolair.com.

Your Specialty Pharmacy representative may also call to tell you the status of your Xolair refill, to confirm that you have scheduled your next doctor’s visit, and to notify you of any other issues of which you should be aware.