The European Commission (EC) has approved an asthma drug as an alternative treatment for severe hives in the UK.

Xolair (omalizumab) is now available as an add-on treatment for painful itching and swelling in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who do not respond adequately to antihistamines alone, its manufacturer Novartis announced yesterday (March 6).

The EC approved the drug, which is already prescribed for the treatment of persistent allergic asthma, following three clinical trials on nearly 1,000 people with CSU. The results demonstrated significant improvement in itching and hives, including rapid relief from itching and the complete clearance of symptoms in many cases, Novartis said. The trials had shown the drug improved the quality of life for CSU sufferers, nearly three quarters of whom felt the condition interferes with their sexual relationships, Novartis added.

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	CSU can affect more than 300,000 people in the UK at any given time. Its symptoms include swollen, itchy skin and hives that reoccur for more than six weeks The condition was traditionally hard to treat as up to half of patients did not respond to antihistamines, the only other licensed therapy, the manufacturer said.

Maureen Jenkins, clinical service director at charity Allergy UK, said CSU patients were at their "wits' end" from despair over the unpredictable condition. Xolair gave new hope to those who suffered every day, she added.

Dr Tony Bewley, consultant dermatologist at Barts Health NHS Trust in London said the drug gave clinicians a new and much-needed option to help manage CSU patients effectively.

Last year, Nice recommended Xolair as an option for treating severe asthma in children and adults, overturning its previous decision that the drug was not cost-effective.