Methods for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of treating a mammal having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), independent of both smoking status and asthma status, with a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-IgE moiety. In accordance with the invention, COPD patients with an elevated serum IgE level may benefit from the treatment methods disclosed. In certain instances, the methods of the disclosure have been found to be useful for the treatment of COPD patients regardless of their skin test results and/or in vitro reactivity to a perennial aeroallergen. Anti-IgE moieties, in accordance with the invention, include but are not limited to any IgG antibody that selectively binds to a given mammal immunoglobulin E (e.g., human immunoglobulin E) such as humanized anti-IgE, humanized murine monoclonal antibody, and/or Omalizumab.

1 . A method of treating a mammal having COPD comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) moiety; wherein the anti-IgE moiety reduces or blocks the binding of soluble IgE to its receptors, wherein the administration results in an outcome comprising a reduction in the number of acute exacerbations experienced by the mammal, and wherein the composition is free of steroids. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-IgE moiety is a humanized IgG antibody that selectively binds to human IgE. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the humanized IgG antibody that selectively binds to human IgE is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-IgE moiety is Omalizumab. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mammal has an elevated serum IgE level. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mammal has a negative skin test. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mammal has a negative in vitro reactivity to a perennial aero allergen.