Research and Development News

New Pill Shows Promise for Hay Fever and Allergy Symptoms

By: Donna Gundle-Krieg | Friday 19 February 2010 22:38 PDT

A new prescription medicine called Grazax shows promise for those who suffer from hay fever and other seasonal allergies, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Grazax has been approved in Europe to treat those who have allergies to grass pollen, which is the most common trigger of hay fever symptoms. Grazax is also being studied in the United States for possible approval.

How Does Grazax Compare With Allergy Shots?
Grazax is an alternative to allergy shots for those who are allergic to grass pollen.

In many ways, Grazax works like allergy shots, which are given weekly and monthly over several years to those with seasonal allergies.

Grazax is taken as a pill, and it dissolves under the tongue. The new drug is taken daily for three years. It must be started months before allergy season begins to be most effective.

Both the Grazax pills and the allergy shots prevent hay fever and allergy symptoms, but do not cure allergies.

Grazax prevents symptoms by exposing those with grass pollen allergies to small amounts of the pollen, gradually building up the patient's resistance.

This is similar to how allergy shots work, though allergy shots can also relieve symptoms of other seasonal allergies in addition to allergies to grass pollen.

How Was the Study About Allergies Conducted?
In the new study, researchers studied 257 adults with hay fever. They randomly assigned some of the adults to take Grazax, while others took a placebo.

The Grazax users had 26 percent fewer allergy symptoms than those who took the placebo. These symptoms include congestion and itchy, watery eyes.

Grazax users were also able to reduce their use of other allergy medications by 29 percent, and they reported a better quality of life.

During the last year on treatment, 15 percent of Grazax patients had side effects believed to be caused by the treatment. The most common side effects were:

• ear itchiness
• itching and swelling in the mouth
• throat irritation.
  

The study was funded by Denmark-based ALK-Abello, the maker of Grazax. The leader of the study was Dr. Stephen R. Durham, of Imperial College London in the UK.
Previous studies also show that Grazax is well tolerated in children.