Novartis/Genentech Xolair

Clinical trials of the allergy and asthma treatment omalizumab are placed on hold after two monkey fatalities in a study of rhuMAb-E-26, a second-generation version of Xolair. The termination was also attributed to thrombocytopenia observed in nonclinical toxicology Xolair studies. One Xolair trial on partial hold will continue but will not enroll new patients. A BLA for Xolair has been pending at FDA since late August