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Financial Assistance Options

No matter what type of health insurance your patient has, they may have options to help them afford their medicine. Options may be available to your patient even if they have no insurance at all.

Get Started with Financial Assistance Tool

Use our financial assistance tool to see which programs may be right for your patient.

Get started

If you would rather talk through some potential options, call us at 866-4ACCESS (866-422-2377) (6AM-5PM PST, Monday through Friday).

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Help With Co-pay Costs

These programs help your patient pay for XOLAIR if they have insurance but still need help with costs:

Help With Costs for XOLAIR

Co-pay Card Assistance

With the XOLAIR Co-pay Program, eligible patients with commercial insurance could pay as little as $0 per treatment for XOLAIR. Co-pay assistance of up to $15,000 is provided per calendar year. Note: The final amount owed may be as little as $0, but may vary depending on the health insurance plan.

Your patient may be eligible if they:

  • Are taking XOLAIR for an FDA-approved use
  • Are 18 years of age or older or have a Legally Authorized Person over the age of 18 to manage the program
  • Have commercial (private or non-governmental) insurance. This includes plans available through state and federal health insurance exchanges
  • Live and receive treatment in the United States or U.S. Territories
  • Are not receiving assistance through the Genentech Patient Foundation or any other charitable organization for the same expenses covered by the program
  • Do not use a state or federal healthcare plan to pay for your medication. This includes, but is not limited to, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE

Help With Costs for Injection

Co-pay Card Assistance

With the XOLAIR Co-pay Program, eligible patients with commercial insurance could pay as little as $0 per treatment for XOLAIR. Co-pay assistance of up to $1,500 is provided per calendar year. Note: The final amount owed may be as little as $0, but may vary depending on the health insurance plan.

Your patient may be eligible if they:

  • Are taking XOLAIR for an FDA-approved use
  • Are 18 years of age or older or have a Legally Authorized Person over the age of 18 to manage the program
  • Have commercial (private or non-governmental) insurance. This includes plans available through state and federal health insurance exchanges
  • Live and receive treatment in the United States or U.S. Territories
  • Are not receiving assistance from any charitable organization for the same expenses covered by the program*
  • Do not use a state or federal healthcare plan to pay for your therapy. This includes, but is not limited to, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE
  • Do not live or get treatments in certain states (Massachusetts or Rhode Island)

*Patients may use the XOLAIR Co-pay Program for their injection costs if they are receiving their medicine from the Genentech Patient Foundation.

The Product and Administration Co-pay Programs (“Programs”) are valid ONLY for patients with commercial (private or non-governmental) insurance who have a valid prescription for a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indication of a Genentech medicine. Patients using Medicare, Medicaid or any other federal or state government program (collectively, “Government Programs”) to pay for their Genentech medicine and/or administration services are not eligible.

Under the Programs, the patient may be required to pay a co-pay for drug costs and a co-pay for administration costs. The final amount owed by a patient may be as little as $0 for the Genentech medicine or administration of the Genentech medicine (see Program specific details available at the Program website). The total patient out-of-pocket cost is dependent on the patient’s health insurance plan. The Programs assist with the cost of the Genentech medicine and the Genentech medicine administration only. It does not assist with the cost of other administrations, medicines, procedures or office visit fees. After reaching the maximum Programs’ benefit amounts, the patient will be responsible for all remaining out-of-pocket expenses. The amount of the Programs’ benefits cannot exceed the patient’s out-of-pocket expenses for the cost of the Genentech medicine or administration fees for the Genentech medicine.

All participants are responsible for reporting the receipt of all Programs’ benefits as required by any insurer or by law. The Programs are only valid in the United States and U.S. Territories and are void where prohibited by law. The Drug Co-pay Program shall follow state restrictions in relation to AB-rated generic equivalents (e.g., MA, CA) where applicable. The Administration Co-pay Program is not valid for Massachusetts or Rhode Island residents. No party may seek reimbursement for all or any part of the benefit received through the Programs. The value of the Programs is intended exclusively for the benefit of the patient. The funds made available through the Programs may only be used to reduce the out-of-pocket costs for the patient enrolled in the Programs. The Programs are not intended for the benefit of third parties, including without limitation third party payers, pharmacy benefit managers, or their agents. If Genentech determines that a third party has implemented programs that adjust patient cost-sharing obligations based on the availability of support under the Programs and/or excludes the assistance provided under the Programs from counting towards the patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket cost limitations, Genentech may impose a per fill cap on the cost-sharing assistance available under the Programs. Submission of true and accurate information is a requirement for eligibility and Genentech reserves the right to disqualify patients who do not comply from Genentech programs. Genentech reserves the right to rescind, revoke or amend the Programs without notice at any time.

Additional terms and conditions apply. Please visit the co-pay Program website for the full list of Terms and Conditions.

View full TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Patients may qualify for drug assistance, administration assistance or both, depending on whether they meet the eligibility criteria.

Independent Co-pay Assistance

An independent co-pay assistance foundation is a charitable organization providing financial assistance to patients with specific disease states, regardless of treatment. Patients who are commercially or publicly insured, including those covered by Medicare and Medicaid, can contact the foundations directly to request assistance. Eligibility requirements, all aspects of the application process, turnaround times and the type or amount of assistance available (if any) can vary by foundation. 

These foundations may be able to help. Please check their websites for up-to-date information.

Advise your patient that these organizations are independent of Genentech and may require the patient to provide personal or financial information directly to the organization to enroll in their respective programs. Genentech cannot share any information the patient has provided to us.

Independent co-pay assistance foundations have their own rules for eligibility. We have no involvement or influence in independent foundation decision-making or eligibility criteria and do not know if a foundation will be able to help your patient. We can only refer your patient to a foundation that supports their disease state. This information is provided as a resource for you. We do not endorse or show preference for any particular foundation. The foundations in this list may not be the only ones that might be able to help your patient.


Genentech Patient Foundation

If patients don’t have health insurance coverage for XOLAIR or have financial concerns and meet eligibility criteria, this program may help:

Genentech Patient Foundation

The Genentech Patient Foundation gives free XOLAIR to people who have been prescribed this medicine and don’t have insurance or that have financial concerns and meet certain eligibility criteria.

Your patient may be eligible if their insurance coverage and income match one of these situations:

  • Uninsured patients with incomes under $150,000
  • Insured patients without coverage for XOLAIR with incomes under $150,000
  • Insured patients with coverage for a Genentech medicine:
    • With an out-of-pocket maximum set by their health insurance plan that exceeds 7.5% of their household income
    • With household size and income within certain guidelines

For any of these situations, add $25,000 for each extra person in households larger than 4 people.

We encourage insured patients to try other financial assistance options before applying for help from the Genentech Patient Foundation, if possible.

Enrollment Process for the Genentech Patient Foundation

Get started with enrollment by following the steps below.

Option 1: Submit online

If your practice has a registered account for My Patient Solutions, you can get started by logging into your account.

Don't have an account?

Your patient is required to complete the Patient Consent Form. You can either upload their Patient Consent Form as part of your application or have your patient submit the form via fax, text or e-submit.

  • An online tool to help you enroll patients in XOLAIR Access Solutions and manage your service requests at your convenience.

Option 2: Print & fax or text

Step 1: Print one of the Patient Consent Forms below for your patient to complete.

Step 2: Print and complete the Prescriber Foundation Form below.

Step 3: Submit the completed forms via fax or text.

Both forms are required. We must have both the Patient Consent Form and the Prescriber Foundation Form before we can help you. 

What to expect next:

  • The request will be processed within five business days upon receipt of both required forms.
  • Your office will be contacted to discuss any next steps.

If you have any questions about the criteria, please contact a Foundation Specialist at 888-941-3331 (Mon.–Fri., 6AM–5PM PST).


Get Started with Financial Assistance Tool

Use our financial assistance tool to see which programs may be right for your patient.

Get started

  • Commercial insurance: An insurance plan you get from a private health insurance company. This can be insurance from your job, from a plan you bought yourself or from a Health Insurance Marketplace. Medicare and Medicaid are not considered commercial insurance. 

  • Public insurance: A health insurance plan you get from the federal or state government. This includes Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and DoD/VA insurance.

  • For example, a household size of 1 with income of less than $75,000 may meet the criteria for assistance. Add $25,000 for each additional person in the household. There is no maximum number of people you may add.

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      Saini SS, Bindslev-Jensen C, Maurer M, et al. Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria who remain symptomatic on H1 antihistamines: a randomized, placebo-controlled study [published correction appears in J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(3):925]. J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(1):67-75.

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      Zazzali JL, Raimundo K, Trzaskoma B, Rosén KE. Improvements in health-related quality of life from GLACIAL: a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of omalizumab in patients with chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria (CIU/CSU) receiving concomitant H1 antihistamines, H2 antihistamines, and/or leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) treatment. Poster presented at: the 32nd Anniversary Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference; October 17–20, 2013; Las Vegas, NV.

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      Antonova E, Raimundo K, Trzaskoma B, Solari PG, Omachi T, Zazzali JL. Improvement of sleep in patients with chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria (CIU/CSU) treated with omalizumab: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (GLACIAL). Poster presented at: the 2014 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; November 6–10, 2014; Atlanta, GA.

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      Casale TB, Murphy TR, Holden M, et al. Impact of omalizumab on patient-reported outcomes in chronic idiopathic urticaria: results from XTEND-CIU, a 48-week, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Poster presented at: the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)/World Allergy Organization (WAO) Joint Congress; March 2–5, 2018; Orlando, FL.

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      Ludmann P. Hives: signs and symptoms. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Updated September 28, 2021. Accessed May 25, 2023. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/hives-symptoms

    • Hollis K, Proctor C, McBride D, et al. Comparison of Urticaria Activity Score Over 7 Days (UAS7) values obtained from once-daily and twice-daily versions: results from the ASSURE-CSU study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(2):267​-274.

      Hollis K, Proctor C, McBride D, et al. Comparison of Urticaria Activity Score Over 7 Days (UAS7) values obtained from once-daily and twice-daily versions: results from the ASSURE-CSU study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(2):267​-274.

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

    INDICATION

    XOLAIR® (omalizumab) is indicated for:
    • The treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment.


      Limitations of Use: XOLAIR is not indicated for treatment of other forms of urticaria.

    WARNING: Anaphylaxis

    Anaphylaxis presenting as bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, and/or angioedema of the throat or tongue, has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR. Anaphylaxis has occurred as early as after the first dose of XOLAIR, but also has occurred beyond 1 year after beginning regularly administered treatment. Because of the risk of anaphylaxis, initiate XOLAIR therapy in a healthcare setting and closely observe patients for an appropriate period of time after XOLAIR administration. Health care providers administering XOLAIR should be prepared to manage anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and instruct them to seek immediate medical care should symptoms occur. Selection of patients for self-administration of XOLAIR should be based on criteria to mitigate risk from anaphylaxis.


    CONTRAINDICATIONS

    XOLAIR is contraindicated in patients with a severe hypersensitivity reaction to XOLAIR or to any ingredient of XOLAIR.

    WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

    Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR in premarketing clinical trials and in postmarketing spontaneous reports. In premarketing clinical trials in patients for a different indication, anaphylaxis was reported in 3 of 3507 (0.1%) patients. Anaphylaxis occurred with the first dose of XOLAIR in two patients and with the fourth dose in one patient. The time to onset of anaphylaxis was 90 minutes after administration in two patients and 2 hours after administration in one patient.

    A case-control study in asthma patients showed that, among XOLAIR users, patients with a history of anaphylaxis to foods, medications, or other causes were at increased risk of anaphylaxis associated with XOLAIR, compared to those with no prior history of anaphylaxis.

    In postmarketing spontaneous reports, the frequency of anaphylaxis attributed to XOLAIR use was estimated to be at least 0.2% of patients based on an estimated exposure of about 57,300 patients from June 2003 through December 2006. Approximately 60% to 70% of anaphylaxis cases have been reported to occur within the first three doses of XOLAIR, with additional cases occurring sporadically beyond the third dose.

    Initiate XOLAIR only in a healthcare setting equipped to manage anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening. Observe patients closely for an appropriate period of time after administration of XOLAIR, taking into account the time to onset of anaphylaxis seen in premarketing clinical trials and postmarketing spontaneous reports. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and instruct them to seek immediate medical care should signs or symptoms occur.

    Once XOLAIR therapy has been established, administration of XOLAIR prefilled syringe or autoinjector outside of a healthcare setting by a patient or a caregiver may be appropriate for selected patients. Patient selection, determined by the healthcare provider in consultation with the patient, should take into account the pattern of anaphylaxis events seen in premarketing clinical trials and postmarketing spontaneous reports, as well as individual patient risk factors (e.g. prior history of anaphylaxis), ability to recognize signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and ability to perform subcutaneous injections with XOLAIR prefilled syringe or autoinjector with proper technique according to the prescribed dosing regimen and Instructions for Use.

    Discontinue XOLAIR in patients who experience a severe hypersensitivity reaction.

    Malignancy: Malignant neoplasms were observed in 20 of 4127 (0.5%) XOLAIR-treated patients compared with 5 of 2236 (0.2%) control patients in clinical studies of adults and adolescents (≥12 years of age) for a different indication and other allergic disorders. The observed malignancies in XOLAIR-treated patients were a variety of types, with breast, non-melanoma skin, prostate, melanoma, and parotid occurring more than once, and five other types occurring once each. The majority of patients were observed for less than 1 year. The impact of longer exposure to XOLAIR or use in patients at higher risk for malignancy (e.g., elderly, current smokers) is not known.

    A subsequent 5-year observational study of 5007 XOLAIR-treated and 2829 non-XOLAIR-treated adolescent and adult patients for a different indication found that the incidence rates of primary malignancies (per 1000 patient years) were similar in both groups (12.3 vs 13.0, respectively). Study limitations which include the observational study design, the bias introduced by allowing enrollment of patients previously exposed to XOLAIR (88%), enrollment of patients (56%) while a history of cancer or a premalignant condition were study exclusion criteria, and the high study discontinuation rate (44%) preclude definitively ruling out a malignancy risk with XOLAIR.

    Corticosteroid Reduction: In CSU patients, the use of XOLAIR in combination with corticosteroids has not been evaluated.

    Fever, Arthralgia, and Rash: In post-approval use, some patients have experienced a constellation of signs and symptoms, including arthritis/arthralgia, rash, fever, and lymphadenopathy with an onset 1 to 5 days after the first or subsequent injections of XOLAIR. These signs and symptoms have recurred after additional doses in some patients. Physicians should stop XOLAIR if a patient develops this constellation of signs and symptoms.

    Parasitic (Helminth) Infection: Monitor patients at high risk of geohelminth infection while on XOLAIR therapy. Insufficient data are available to determine the length of monitoring required for geohelminth infections after stopping XOLAIR treatment.

    Laboratory Tests: Due to formation of XOLAIR:IgE complexes, serum total IgE levels increase following administration of XOLAIR and may remain elevated for up to 1 year following discontinuation of XOLAIR.

    Potential Medication Error Related to Emergency Treatment of Anaphylaxis
    XOLAIR should not be used for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. In studies to simulate use, some patients and caregivers did not understand that XOLAIR is not intended for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. The safety and effectiveness of XOLAIR for emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, have not been established. Instruct patients that XOLAIR is for maintenance use to reduce allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, while avoiding food allergens.

    ADVERSE REACTIONS

    Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: The most common adverse reactions (≥2% incidence in XOLAIR-treated patients and more frequent than in placebo) for XOLAIR 150 mg and 300 mg, respectively, included: headache (12%, 6%), nasopharyngitis (9%, 7%), arthralgia (3%, 3%), viral upper respiratory infection (2%, 1%), nausea (1%, 3%), sinusitis (1%, 5%), upper respiratory tract infection (1%, 3%), and cough (1%, 2%).

    Injection Site Reactions: Injection site reactions of any severity occurred in more XOLAIR-treated patients (11 patients [2.7%] at 300 mg, 1 patient [0.6%] at 150 mg) compared with 2 placebo-treated patients (0.8%). The types of injection site reactions included: swelling, erythema, pain, bruising, itching, bleeding, and urticaria. None of the events resulted in study discontinuation or treatment interruption.

    Injection Site Reactions in Healthy Adults: In an open label trial in healthy adults, in which the 300 mg/2 mL autoinjector was compared to the 300 mg/2 mL prefilled syringe, injection site reactions (e.g., induration, pain, erythema, hemorrhage, swelling, discomfort, bruising, hypoesthesia, edema, pruritus) were observed in 24% (16/66) of subjects treated with the autoinjector compared with 14% (9/64) of subjects treated with the prefilled syringe.

    Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events from Clinical Studies for a Different Indication: A 5-year observational study was conducted in 5007 XOLAIR-treated and 2829 non-XOLAIR-treated patients ≥12 years of age for a different indication to evaluate the long term safety of XOLAIR, including the risk of malignancy. Similar percentages of patients in both cohorts were current (5%) or former smokers (29%). Patients had a mean age of 45 years and were followed for a mean of 3.7 years. More XOLAIR-treated patients were diagnosed with a severe form of the condition studied (50%) compared to the non-XOLAIR-treated patients (23%). A higher incidence rate (per 1000 patient-years) of overall cardiovascular and cerebrovascular serious adverse events (SAEs) was observed in XOLAIR-treated patients (13.4) compared to non-XOLAIR-treated patients (8.1). Increases in rates were observed for transient ischemic attack (0.7 vs 0.1), myocardial infarction (2.1 vs 0.8), pulmonary hypertension (0.5 vs 0), pulmonary embolism/venous thrombosis (3.2 vs 1.5), and unstable angina (2.2 vs 1.4), while the rates observed for ischemic stroke and cardiovascular death were similar among both study cohorts. The results suggest a potential increased risk of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients treated with XOLAIR, however the observational study design, the inclusion of patients previously exposed to XOLAIR (88% for a mean of 8 months), baseline imbalances in cardiovascular risk factors between the treatment groups, an inability to adjust for unmeasured risk factors, and the high study discontinuation rate (44%) limit the ability to quantify the magnitude of the risk.

    Pregnancy: Data with XOLAIR use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform on drug associated risk.

    You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555 or Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation at (888) 669-6682.

    Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide, for additional Important Safety Information.

    WARNING: Anaphylaxis

    Anaphylaxis presenting as bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, and/or angioedema of the throat or tongue, has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR. Anaphylaxis has occurred as early as after the first dose of XOLAIR, but also has occurred beyond 1 year after beginning regularly administered treatment. Because of the risk of anaphylaxis, initiate XOLAIR therapy in a healthcare setting and closely observe patients for an appropriate period of time after XOLAIR administration. Health care providers administering XOLAIR should be prepared to manage anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and instruct them to seek immediate medical care should symptoms occur. Selection of patients for self-administration of XOLAIR should be based on criteria to mitigate risk from anaphylaxis.

    INDICATION

    XOLAIR® (omalizumab) is indicated for:
    • The treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment.


      Limitations of Use: XOLAIR is not indicated for treatment of other forms of urticaria.


    CONTRAINDICATIONS

    XOLAIR is contraindicated in patients with a severe hypersensitivity reaction to XOLAIR or to any ingredient of XOLAIR.

    WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

    Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR in premarketing clinical trials and in postmarketing spontaneous reports. In premarketing clinical trials in patients for a different indication, anaphylaxis was reported in 3 of 3507 (0.1%) patients. Anaphylaxis occurred with the first dose of XOLAIR in two patients and with the fourth dose in one patient. The time to onset of anaphylaxis was 90 minutes after administration in two patients and 2 hours after administration in one patient.

    A case-control study in asthma patients showed that, among XOLAIR users, patients with a history of anaphylaxis to foods, medications, or other causes were at increased risk of anaphylaxis associated with XOLAIR, compared to those with no prior history of anaphylaxis.

    In postmarketing spontaneous reports, the frequency of anaphylaxis attributed to XOLAIR use was estimated to be at least 0.2% of patients based on an estimated exposure of about 57,300 patients from June 2003 through December 2006. Approximately 60% to 70% of anaphylaxis cases have been reported to occur within the first three doses of XOLAIR, with additional cases occurring sporadically beyond the third dose.

    Initiate XOLAIR only in a healthcare setting equipped to manage anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening. Observe patients closely for an appropriate period of time after administration of XOLAIR, taking into account the time to onset of anaphylaxis seen in premarketing clinical trials and postmarketing spontaneous reports. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and instruct them to seek immediate medical care should signs or symptoms occur.

    Once XOLAIR therapy has been established, administration of XOLAIR prefilled syringe or autoinjector outside of a healthcare setting by a patient or a caregiver may be appropriate for selected patients. Patient selection, determined by the healthcare provider in consultation with the patient, should take into account the pattern of anaphylaxis events seen in premarketing clinical trials and postmarketing spontaneous reports, as well as individual patient risk factors (e.g. prior history of anaphylaxis), ability to recognize signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and ability to perform subcutaneous injections with XOLAIR prefilled syringe or autoinjector with proper technique according to the prescribed dosing regimen and Instructions for Use.

    Discontinue XOLAIR in patients who experience a severe hypersensitivity reaction.

    Malignancy: Malignant neoplasms were observed in 20 of 4127 (0.5%) XOLAIR-treated patients compared with 5 of 2236 (0.2%) control patients in clinical studies of adults and adolescents (≥12 years of age) for a different indication and other allergic disorders. The observed malignancies in XOLAIR-treated patients were a variety of types, with breast, non-melanoma skin, prostate, melanoma, and parotid occurring more than once, and five other types occurring once each. The majority of patients were observed for less than 1 year. The impact of longer exposure to XOLAIR or use in patients at higher risk for malignancy (e.g., elderly, current smokers) is not known.

    A subsequent 5-year observational study of 5007 XOLAIR-treated and 2829 non-XOLAIR-treated adolescent and adult patients for a different indication found that the incidence rates of primary malignancies (per 1000 patient years) were similar in both groups (12.3 vs 13.0, respectively). Study limitations which include the observational study design, the bias introduced by allowing enrollment of patients previously exposed to XOLAIR (88%), enrollment of patients (56%) while a history of cancer or a premalignant condition were study exclusion criteria, and the high study discontinuation rate (44%) preclude definitively ruling out a malignancy risk with XOLAIR.

    Corticosteroid Reduction: In CSU patients, the use of XOLAIR in combination with corticosteroids has not been evaluated.

    Fever, Arthralgia, and Rash: In post-approval use, some patients have experienced a constellation of signs and symptoms, including arthritis/arthralgia, rash, fever, and lymphadenopathy with an onset 1 to 5 days after the first or subsequent injections of XOLAIR. These signs and symptoms have recurred after additional doses in some patients. Physicians should stop XOLAIR if a patient develops this constellation of signs and symptoms.

    Parasitic (Helminth) Infection: Monitor patients at high risk of geohelminth infection while on XOLAIR therapy. Insufficient data are available to determine the length of monitoring required for geohelminth infections after stopping XOLAIR treatment.

    Laboratory Tests: Due to formation of XOLAIR:IgE complexes, serum total IgE levels increase following administration of XOLAIR and may remain elevated for up to 1 year following discontinuation of XOLAIR.

    Potential Medication Error Related to Emergency Treatment of Anaphylaxis
    XOLAIR should not be used for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. In studies to simulate use, some patients and caregivers did not understand that XOLAIR is not intended for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. The safety and effectiveness of XOLAIR for emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, have not been established. Instruct patients that XOLAIR is for maintenance use to reduce allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, while avoiding food allergens.

    ADVERSE REACTIONS

    Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: The most common adverse reactions (≥2% incidence in XOLAIR-treated patients and more frequent than in placebo) for XOLAIR 150 mg and 300 mg, respectively, included: headache (12%, 6%), nasopharyngitis (9%, 7%), arthralgia (3%, 3%), viral upper respiratory infection (2%, 1%), nausea (1%, 3%), sinusitis (1%, 5%), upper respiratory tract infection (1%, 3%), and cough (1%, 2%).

    Injection Site Reactions: Injection site reactions of any severity occurred in more XOLAIR-treated patients (11 patients [2.7%] at 300 mg, 1 patient [0.6%] at 150 mg) compared with 2 placebo-treated patients (0.8%). The types of injection site reactions included: swelling, erythema, pain, bruising, itching, bleeding, and urticaria. None of the events resulted in study discontinuation or treatment interruption.

    Injection Site Reactions in Healthy Adults: In an open label trial in healthy adults, in which the 300 mg/2 mL autoinjector was compared to the 300 mg/2 mL prefilled syringe, injection site reactions (e.g., induration, pain, erythema, hemorrhage, swelling, discomfort, bruising, hypoesthesia, edema, pruritus) were observed in 24% (16/66) of subjects treated with the autoinjector compared with 14% (9/64) of subjects treated with the prefilled syringe.

    Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events from Clinical Studies for a Different Indication: A 5-year observational study was conducted in 5007 XOLAIR-treated and 2829 non-XOLAIR-treated patients ≥12 years of age for a different indication to evaluate the long term safety of XOLAIR, including the risk of malignancy. Similar percentages of patients in both cohorts were current (5%) or former smokers (29%). Patients had a mean age of 45 years and were followed for a mean of 3.7 years. More XOLAIR-treated patients were diagnosed with a severe form of the condition studied (50%) compared to the non-XOLAIR-treated patients (23%). A higher incidence rate (per 1000 patient-years) of overall cardiovascular and cerebrovascular serious adverse events (SAEs) was observed in XOLAIR-treated patients (13.4) compared to non-XOLAIR-treated patients (8.1). Increases in rates were observed for transient ischemic attack (0.7 vs 0.1), myocardial infarction (2.1 vs 0.8), pulmonary hypertension (0.5 vs 0), pulmonary embolism/venous thrombosis (3.2 vs 1.5), and unstable angina (2.2 vs 1.4), while the rates observed for ischemic stroke and cardiovascular death were similar among both study cohorts. The results suggest a potential increased risk of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients treated with XOLAIR, however the observational study design, the inclusion of patients previously exposed to XOLAIR (88% for a mean of 8 months), baseline imbalances in cardiovascular risk factors between the treatment groups, an inability to adjust for unmeasured risk factors, and the high study discontinuation rate (44%) limit the ability to quantify the magnitude of the risk.

    Pregnancy: Data with XOLAIR use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform on drug associated risk.

    You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555 or Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation at (888) 669-6682.

    Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide, for additional Important Safety Information.