|
|
Article: U.S. drug agency approves new treatment for allergic asthma
- Article from:
- AP Worldstream
- Article date:
- June 20, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightProvided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
00-00-0000
Dateline: WASHINGTON
Millions of asthma sufferers in the United States are about to get
a dramatically different treatment that promises to short-circuit
some attacks: a drug named Xolair that won federal approval Friday.
It's only for patients with serious allergic asthma, where the breathing
problems are triggered by allergies _ and then only if regular asthma
medicines aren't working. And it's expensive, requiring monthly shots
that will cost between $5,000 and $10,000 a year, depending on the
dose.
But doctors have been anxiously awaiting Xolair because it works differently
than any other asthma medicine, blocking an allergic reaction well
before it triggers the ...