The most effective and safest treatments for reducing hives, itch, and swelling among chronic urticaria patients include omalizumab (Xolair, Genentech & Novartis) and remibrutinib, a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor being developed by Novartis, according to research published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
For the study, researchers compared more than 40 treatment options for chronic hives. The meta-analysis included 93 randomized controlled trials involving more than 11,000 participants.
The research identified the following treatments as most effective:
- Omalizumab and remibrutinib for reducing hives, itch, and swelling.
- Dupilumab (Dupixent, Sanofi & Regeneron) for reducing hives.
Cyclosporine may be effective but carries a higher risk of side-effects such as kidney toxicity and high blood pressure, the researchers report.
“This first comprehensive analysis of all advanced treatment options for chronic urticaria provides a clear and evidence-based ‘menu of treatment options’ for patients and their clinicians to choose from,” says Derek Chu, MD, PhD, FRCPC, an Assistant Professor with McMaster’s Department of Medicine in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in a news release.
The findings of this study will be used to inform upcoming international clinical guidelines.
