Drug offers hope to asthma sufferers

PEOPLE with severe asthma have been given new hope with the launch of a drug to target the cause of their attacks.

Xolair (omalizumab), which has just been approved for use in Britain, is given as an injection to severe asthma sufferers every two to four weeks.

Trials have shown that it can reduce hospital admission for asthma patients by nearly half (47%). It can also reduce asthma attacks in severely affected patients by 55%.