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- Dahl, Ronald, et al.
(author)
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Sublingual grass allergen tablet immunotherapy provides sustained clinical benefit with progressive immunologic changes over 2 years.
- 2008
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In: The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1097-6825 .- 0091-6749. ; 121:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: This is an interim analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial with 3 years of daily treatment with grass tablet immunotherapy (GRAZAX; ALK-Abell? A/S, H?rsholm, Denmark) or placebo, followed by 2 years of follow-up to assess the persistent efficacy. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of specific immunotherapy with grass allergen tablets compared with placebo after treatment covering 2 consecutive grass pollen seasons. METHODS: The interim analyses included 351 adult participants with moderate-to-severe allergic rhinoconjunctivitis caused by grass pollen. Participants were treated with active (n = 189) or placebo (n = 162) tablets for an average of 22 months. All participants were allowed to use symptomatic rescue medication. RESULTS: The primary efficacy analysis showed highly significant mean reductions of 36% in rhinoconjunctivitis symptom score (P < .0001; median reduction, 44%) and 46% in rhinoconjunctivitis medication score (P < .0001; median reduction, 73%) in the active group relative to the placebo group. Mean rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life was 33% better (P < .0001; median, 40%). Clinical improvements were paralleled by significant changes in allergen-specific immunoglobulins. The treatment was well tolerated, and adverse events led to withdrawal in less than 1% of participants. There were no serious adverse events related to treatment. CONCLUSION: Grass allergen tablet immunotherapy showed progressive immunologic changes and highly significant efficacy over 2 years of continued treatment.
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