Pill Shows Lasting Benefits Against Hay Fever

From Reuters Health Information

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 15 - A prescription pill approved in Europe for the treatment of grass pollen allergies seems to have lasting benefits, a new study finds.

The drug, called Grazax, offers an alternative to allergy shots. Dissolved under the tongue, the pills contain a small amount of grass-pollen extract. The drug is taken daily, starting several months before the start of the allergy season and continuing for three years thereafter.

In the new study, researchers looked at the medication's long-term effects in patients who had stopped using it after the recommended three years. They found that, compared with patients who had been given a placebo, Grazax users had one-quarter fewer hay fever symptoms one year after stopping the medication.

They also had less need for antihistamines and other allergy medications, according to a report in the January issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

These longer-term findings, the researchers write, support Grazax as a treatment option for people whose hay fever symptoms fail to improve with standard medication.

Dr. Stephen R. Durham, of Imperial College London in the UK, led the study, which was funded by Denmark-based ALK-Abello, the maker of Grazax. Durham and several co-researchers on the study have received research grants and other funds from the drug company.

The findings are based on 257 adults with grass pollen allergies, confirmed through allergy tests. They were randomly assigned to take either Grazax or inactive placebo tablets every day, beginning four to eight months before the next grass pollen season. They continued the therapy for three years.

Over those three years and for one year after stopping the treatment, the patients rated their daily symptoms and allergy medication use.

During the year following treatment, patients in the Grazax group reported a 26 percent reduction in symptoms like congestion and itchy, watery eyes compared with the placebo group. They also had a 29 percent reduction in medication use and gave higher ratings to their quality of life.

Those differences were similar to those seen during the three years of active treatment, according to the researchers.

During the last year on treatment, 15 percent of Grazax patients had side effects believed to be caused by the treatment -- the most common being itching and swelling in the mouth, ear itchiness and throat irritation.

A clinical trial aimed at winning FDA approval for Grazax is currently underway.

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2010;125:131-138.

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