Medical science is advancing all the time and scientists are working hard to find new treatments for problems. But sometimes it can be the case that drugs that have already been developed can be used to treat problems that they were not originally intended for. This can be extremely beneficial as it means that huge amounts of money do not have to be pushed into finding additional drugs. And this appears to have been happening recently.
A drug that was originally formulated to fight the symptoms of asthma has shown promise in relieving itchiness for patients who have chronic hives and who do not get any relief from traditional antihistamine treatment. The drug, omalizumab, known by its brand name, Xolair, is a monoclonal antibody that can be used to treat allergic asthma.
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, revealed a monthly injection of the drug significantly reduced hives and itchiness. This is very interesting as it could be the perfect drug to counteract the condition, even though it was not developed with hives in mind. And while the drug is not a cure, it can help manage a patient who has significant trouble with hives.
If it is approved for use, omalizumab could bring relief to patients who suffer from chronic idiopathic urticaria, which is known to cause hives, itchiness and often the swelling of lips, tongue and other soft tissues.
Recent studies have shown that 1 in 1,000 people suffer from the condition, while some experts have suggested that this is a very low estimate. Either way it is very good news that this drug could now provide the relief that patients and doctors have been looking for, especially as it has not cost any extra money to develop it.
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