Skip to main content

Is Xolair an immunosuppressant?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 23, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Xolair (omalizumab) is an antibody that may be used to treat allergic asthma that is:

Xolair is also approved to treat:

Xolair is administered by injection under the skin (subcutaneously) once every two to four weeks. The dosage of Xolair is based on body weight.

How does Xolair work?

Xolair works by inhibiting the binding of IgE to IgE receptors on mast cells and basophils. Mast cells and basophils are specific cells of the immune system that contain histamine and heparin.

As soon as IgE binds to an IgE receptor it causes the release of histamine and heparin from the cell. Histamine is a chemical that has many inflammatory effects in the body. It contracts the smooth muscle tissue in the lungs, uterus, and stomach; dilates blood vessels causing an increase in permeability and a lowering of blood pressure; stimulates the secretion of gastric acid in the stomach; and speeds up the heart rate.

Xolair forms stable Xolair/IgE complexes which are more slowly excreted from the body than free IgE. This means that total serum IgE levels (bound and unbound) will show an increase in laboratory testing; however, free IgE levels are decreased within an hour of injection, and decreases of greater than 96% have been reported.

Related questions

Does Xolair lower immunity?

Because Xolair works on the allergic arm of the immune system, it does not appear to compromise the immune system like traditional immunosuppressants, such as prednisone and cyclosporine.

Xolair is not associated with an increased risk of infection nor increase the risk for COVID-19. However, Xolair is associated with other side effects, such as pain, including joint pain and leg pain, dizziness, fatigue, and a higher risk of cancer of the breast, skin, prostate, and parotid gland (incidence of 0.5% compared to 0.2% in those taking placebo).

References

Read next

How does Xolair affect IgA and IgE levels?

Xolair demonstrates a highly selective effect on immunoglobulin levels in the body, with significant impacts on IgE but no meaningful effect on IgA or other immunoglobulin classes. This selective action is central to omalizumab's therapeutic value in treating IgE-mediated allergic conditions while minimizing broader immune system disruption.

Continue reading

Does Xolair cause hair loss?

Hair loss (alopecia), has been reported in Xolair clinical studies in at least 2% of people with chronic hives. Hair loss has also been noted in several case reports with Xolair. The hair loss effect appears to be transient, lasting from 3 to 4 months. Due to limited data, the exact cause of hair loss or how often it occurs is not known. Continue reading

Does Xolair cause cancer?

Xolair is associated with a slightly higher risk of cancer, but cancer specialists have determined that this does not mean that Xolair causes cancer. Research has shown that cancer occurred in 20 out of 4127 trial participants (0.5% of Xolair-treated study volunteers) and 5 out of 2236 (0.2%) of people who were assigned an inactive treatment. Continue reading

See also:

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups