Omalizumab Before Onset of Exacerbations

Summary

OBOE is a prospective, pilot, parallel group RCT with the overall aim of examining the effect of a single dose of anti-IgE (omalizumab) vs. placebo administered at the onset of URIs in the fall season among highly exacerbation-prone, urban, and atopic youth aged 6-17 years with persistent asthma. OBOE will recruit and randomize participants over 3 years (3 annual cohorts of participants). Recruitment for each of the yearly cohorts of OBOE will begin in February. Each cohort will be followed for a 2-6-month run-in period with the objective to gain control of each participant's asthma and to stabilize the required controller medication step level. Participants will receive routine asthma care every 1-2 months (a total of 2-4 times) during run-in using a previously described algorithm developed by the Inner-city Asthma Consortium and successfully employed in the PROSE study. The primary outcome is the change in the amount of nasal IFN-α recovered by nasal fluid absorption between two time points, within 72 hours of onset of a URI as defined by onset of (or substantial worsening of) rhinorrhea, nasal congestion or sneezing (single or multiple symptoms) and 3-6 days after study drug injection.

Eligibility

Age range

6–17 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

No

Interventions

• Drug
  Omalizumab

  Omalizumab dose for each specific participant is based on that participant's weight and total IgE level. Omalizumab is provided by the manufacturer in two strengths: • For Injection: 75 mg/0.5 mL and 150 mg/mL solution in a single-dose prefilled syringe

• Drug
  Placebo

  Matching placebo for omalizumab will be provided in 0.5 mL and 1 mL solution for injection in pre-filled syringes.

Location