Anti-IgE building clinical momentum
Genentech Inc.'s anti-IgE recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody continues to generate positive clinical data in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis and ultimately could serve to validate the approach of targeting IgE to treat a variety of IgE-mediated indications. On Friday, the company announced statistically significant results in a Phase III trial. GNE and partners Novartis Pharma AG and Tanox Inc. (Houston, Texas) hope that similar efficacy will be seen in an ongoing Phase III study to treat allergic asthma.
The concept behind rhuMAb-E25 is that the antibody will bind to IgE circulating in the blood, thereby preventing it from binding to mast cells. This serves to block the release of inflammatory mediators and attenuate allergic response...