Omalizumab in food allergies – a therapeutic perspective

Food allergy is an important public health problem that affects up to 8% of the population in economically developed countries, especially children and adolescents. The management of allergic patients involves the avoidance of allergens and prompt treatment of immediate allergic reactions. Oral immunotherapy with the food incriminated in the allergic reaction (OIT) is a promising therapeutic alternative, but it is associated with frequent adverse reactions and increased costs. To reduce the adverse reactions of OIT, in a series of studies, omalizumab, a humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, was used as add-on therapy for OIT. Studies with omalizumab as add-on therapy in OIT for peanuts, milk, eggs, or mixtures of several foods bring us promising results. In this article, we review the possibility of using omalizumab, as monotherapy or add-on therapy in OIT, as secondary prevention treatment in food allergies.