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Children who suffer from grass-induced rhinoconjunctivitis have been offered hope after tests of a new treatment yielded positive results.
An investigation into the Merck-produced allergy immunotherapy tablet (AIT) showed a 26% improvement in the condition when compared to patients given a placebo.
AIT, taken in oral form, prevents allergic reactions to grass, such as a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes, by inducing a protective immune response, thereby treating the underlying cause of the condition.
“Patients who received AIT experienced significant reductions in allergy symptoms and allergy medication use, the combined symptom scores evaluated in the study,” lead researcher Michael Blaiss, M.D., told the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology’s annual conference.
The study is the first of its kind in North America.
AIT is currently approved in the European Union for children and adults with grass pollen allergy, and is marketed under the name GRAZAX by ALK-Abello.
Copyright Press Association 2010
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Merck
