Xolair (Omalizumab) is hard to find in 2026 due to surging demand, limited biologic manufacturing, and new FDA indications. Here's why and what you can do.
If you or your doctor have been trying to fill a Xolair (Omalizumab) prescription lately, you may have hit a wall. Pharmacies telling you it's backordered. Specialty distributors with no estimated restock date. It's frustrating — and for people who depend on Xolair to manage severe asthma, chronic hives, nasal polyps, or food allergies, it can be genuinely scary.
The reality is that Xolair has become one of the harder specialty medications to find in 2026. But understanding why can help you figure out what to do next. In this article, we'll explain what Xolair is, why it's in short supply, and the steps you can take to get your medication.
Xolair is the brand name for Omalizumab, an injectable biologic medication made by Genentech and Novartis. It belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies — specifically, it's an anti-IgE antibody.
Xolair works by binding to immunoglobulin E (IgE), a protein in your blood that plays a central role in allergic reactions. By blocking IgE from attaching to cells that trigger inflammation, Xolair helps reduce the symptoms of several allergic conditions.
The FDA has approved Xolair for four conditions:
Xolair is given as a subcutaneous injection every 2 to 4 weeks. Doses range from 75 mg to 375 mg depending on your body weight and IgE levels. For more details on what Xolair treats and how it works, see our guide: What Is Xolair? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know.
There's no single reason Xolair is difficult to get right now. It's a combination of factors that have stacked up over the past couple of years.
In February 2024, the FDA approved Xolair for IgE-mediated food allergy — the first and only medication approved for this purpose. This was a landmark moment for the estimated 33 million Americans living with food allergies.
However, this new indication created an enormous surge in demand almost overnight. Millions of patients who previously had no approved treatment suddenly became eligible for Xolair. The existing manufacturing capacity wasn't built for this level of demand, and supply has been playing catch-up ever since.
Unlike a simple pill, Xolair is a biologic medication produced from living cells (Chinese hamster ovary cells, specifically). The manufacturing process involves growing cells in large bioreactors, purifying the antibody through multiple chromatography steps, and performing rigorous quality control.
This process takes months from start to finish, and it can't be ramped up as quickly as production for a tablet or capsule. Building new manufacturing capacity for a biologic can take years.
Xolair isn't available at your local retail pharmacy. It's a specialty medication that requires cold-chain storage and is typically distributed through specialty pharmacies or administered in a doctor's office. This limited distribution network means that when supply tightens, the bottleneck is felt more acutely than it would be for a widely stocked medication.
A biosimilar version of Xolair — called Omlyclo (Omalizumab-igec) — was approved by the FDA. While this is promising for long-term supply, biosimilar uptake takes time. Doctors and patients need to become comfortable with the switch, insurers need to update formularies, and the biosimilar manufacturer needs to build its own supply chain. In the meantime, most patients are still seeking brand-name Xolair.
Finding Xolair may be harder right now, but it's not impossible. Here are practical steps you can take:
Tools like Medfinder can help you check which pharmacies have Xolair in stock near you in real time. Instead of calling pharmacy after pharmacy, you can search once and see current availability. For a detailed walkthrough, see How to Find Xolair in Stock Near You.
Depending on your condition, there may be alternative biologic medications that could work for you. For asthma, options include Dupixent (Dupilumab), Nucala (Mepolizumab), Fasenra (Benralizumab), and Tezspire (Tezepelumab). Your doctor can help determine whether a switch makes sense for your specific situation. Learn more in our post on Alternatives to Xolair.
If your insurance covers Omlyclo (the Xolair biosimilar), it may be more readily available in some areas. A biosimilar works just as well and is just as safe as the original biologic. Talk to your prescriber about whether this is an option.
Genentech's "Support for You" program can help locate supply and connect you with financial assistance. They may be able to help identify pharmacies or distribution centers with current stock. Call them at the number on the Xolair website.
If your usual specialty pharmacy is out of stock, contact others in your area or ask your doctor's office to check with their network of distributors. Sometimes stock is available at one location but not another within the same city.
The Xolair shortage has been one of the more impactful medication access challenges of the past few years, especially for patients who depend on it for serious allergic conditions. The combination of a groundbreaking new indication, the complexity of biologic manufacturing, and a specialty distribution model has created a perfect storm.
The good news is that supply is gradually improving, and the arrival of a biosimilar competitor should help ease the pressure over time. In the meantime, use every tool available to you — from Medfinder to your doctor's network to manufacturer support programs — to stay on your treatment plan.
If cost is also a concern, check out our guide on How to Save Money on Xolair in 2026.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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