Genentech’s asthma medication Xolair is now indicated for allergic asthma and chronic idiopathic urticaria, aka chronic hives.
The drugmaker announced Monday that the FDA approved the expanded indication, which makes it the first biologic medicine approved for chronic hives.
The approval is limited to patients 12 and older who do not respond to H1 antihistamine therapy. Genentech estimates that about 50% of patients have “an inadequate response” to H1 antihistamine treatment.
