The addition of the anti-IgE monoclonal antibody omalizumab ['Xolair'] to existing treatment regimens may be beneficial for patients who are unable to achieve adequate control of allergic asthma despite receiving high doses of inhaled corticosteroids. A study presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) [Denver, US; March 2003] showed that the addition of omalizumab to patients' established regimens reduced the number of asthma deterioration-related incidents by approximately 50%, compared with the existing regimens alone. Omalizumab was also shown to improve quality of life (QOL), and reduce the rates of hospitalisation and emergency-room (ER) visits, compared with corticosteroids and standard asthma drugs used alone.