Efficacy of Omalizumab as Add on Therapy for Minority Patients With Moderate to Severe Asthma

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-30 * Minority Patients * Moderate or Severe allergic asthma (as defined by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Guidelines(7)\]. Allergic asthma will be defined as elevated IgE level (\> 100 IU/ml) and skin test sensitivity to at least one common aeroallergen * asthma control score greater than 1.5 (5) at randomization visit with use of equivalent of at least 1000 mcg fluticasone daily or systemic steroid use * FEV1 50-90% predicted at screening and randomization visit Exclusion Criteria: * Active smoking within one year and/or greater than 10-pack year history of smoking * Women of childbearing age must be using effective contraception * Malignancy diagnosed within the past 5 years * Underlying lung disease other than asthma * Inability to comply with study protocol