Crosses placenta (fetal serum ~33% of maternal) and into milk; tissue binding limited to IgE-synthesizing lymphoid cells
“Measurable levels of omalizumab were observed in amniotic fluid (~3.3% of maternal serum levels), milk (~0.154%), and fetal (~33%) and neonatal (~33%) serum.”
Thrombocytopenia (mechanism unknown, juvenile monkeys most sensitive); theoretical parasitic infection risk from IgE blockade
“In spite of the mechanistic in vivo/vitro studies performed by the Applicant, the mechanism of the omalizumab-platelet interaction and the epitope responsible for the interaction remain unknown.”
In vitro whole-blood cytokine release far below alemtuzumab/TGN1412 controls; no effects on monkey TDAR, lymphocyte subsets or serum cytokines; ADA in some monkeys