Current and Potential Biologic Drugs for the Treatment of Chronic Urticaria

Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2020 Nov;40(4):609-623. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2020.06.005. Epub 2020 Sep 9.

Abstract

This article reviews biologic treatments that are currently applied for the treatment of severe chronic urticaria. Monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (omalizumab) is effective and safe in many patients, but accessibility and cost constitute barriers to its wider use. Questions on the optimal duration of the treatment and possible symptom recurrences after discontinuing the drug are still raised. A discussion is presented about several other biologics currently under investigation with potential to be incorporated in the near future in patients with severe chronic urticaria.

Keywords: Angioedema; Biologics; Chronic urticaria; Omalizumab.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autoimmunity / drug effects
  • Biological Products / pharmacology
  • Biological Products / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Urticaria / diagnosis
  • Chronic Urticaria / drug therapy*
  • Chronic Urticaria / immunology
  • Drug Resistance
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / metabolism*
  • Mast Cells / drug effects
  • Mast Cells / immunology*
  • Mast Cells / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Recurrence
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / immunology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Immunoglobulin E