Following an abbreviated submission, the Scottish medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted omalizumab (Xolair®) for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of adults, adolescents (12 years of age and older) and children (6 to <12 years of age) with convincing IgE (immunoglobulin E) mediated asthma.  Its use is restricted to patients who are prescribed chronic systemic steroids and in whom all other treatments have failed.  The response to omalizumab treatment should be assessed in all patients at 16 weeks and treatment should be discontinued in patients who have not shown a marked improvement in overall asthma control.

The drug advice notes that the SMC has previously accepted omalizumab powder and solvent for injection; the current submission is for a new solution for injection formulation that will replace this.  The 150mg solution for injection formulation is bioequivalent to the 150mg powder and solvent for injection formulation and costs the same. The new 75mg strength is half the cost of the 150mg injection and should eliminate wastage that occurred previously with certain doses.