A Continued Access Protocol to Provide Xolair to Patients With Severe Allergic Asthma

Inclusion criteria

• Completion of Genentech Study Q2143g, Q2195g, or Q2461g or Novartis Study CIGE025 0010E1
• Signed informed consent document (in the case of a minor, consent must be given by the child's parent or legally authorized representative)
• Females of childbearing potential must, in the opinion of the investigator, be using an effective method of contraception to prevent pregnancy and agree to continue to practice an acceptable method of contraception for the duration of their participation in the study.
• Severe asthma as demonstrated by at least one of the following: *History of prior intubation for allergic asthma; *History of prior admission to an intensive care unit/pediatric ICU for asthma; *History of one or more hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) visits, or unscheduled office visits for asthma in the 12 months prior to first Xolair treatment; *More than 20 days missed from school/work because of allergic asthma in the 12 months prior to initiation of Xolair treatment
• Deterioration of asthma upon withdrawal of Xolair as demonstrated by meeting at least one of the following: *Worsening of pulmonary function tests (FEV1 <80% predicted for height, age, and sex) and activity levels while off Xolair treatment; *Worsening of asthma exacerbations defined as doubling of inhaled steroid dose, increase in dose of oral steroids, or initiation of oral, intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous (SC) steroids while off Xolair treatment; *Increased use of rescue medications while off Xolair treatment; *ER visits or unscheduled office visits for asthma that may or may not result in hospitalization while off Xolair treatment

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy or lactation
• Significant systemic disease (e.g., hematologic, renal, hepatic, coronary heart, endocrine, gastrointestinal disease, other cardiovascular diseases, or infection) within the previous 3 months
• History of neoplasia (including basal cell carcinoma)
• Any systemic condition requiring regular administration of an immunoglobulin
• Known hypersensitivity to any ingredients of Xolair, including excipients (sucrose, histidine, polysorbate 20)
• Current treatment with warfarin (Coumadin(R)), immunomodulatory therapy (e.g., methotrexate, gold, cyclosporine), or antiplatelet therapy
• Current participation in a study using an investigational new drug other than Xolair