NICE has recommended a \u2018first-in-class\u2019 immunotherapy tablet for hay fever sufferers, offering long-term tolerance to allergens rather than just symptom relief. <\/p>\n
Betula verrucosa, marketed as ITULAZAX\u00ae (12 SQ-Bet), is now recommended as treatment for moderate to severe allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis caused by birch tree pollen. <\/p>\n
It is estimated that around 27,000 people in England with moderate to severe tree pollen-induced hay fever could benefit from the drug, which targets the root cause of their allergy and could significantly decrease GP appointments. <\/p>\n
Guidelines state<\/a>\u00a0that, after an initial supervised dose, a dissolvable tablet is taken under the tongue\u00a0once daily for a three-year treatment course.\u00a0 <\/p>\n A phase 3 clinical trial demonstrated<\/a> patients taking the drug had 33% fewer symptoms and 47% less medication use than those taking a placebo. <\/p>\n Common side effects include temporary local reactions such as itching or swelling in the mouth or throat, which are generally mild to moderate and usually subside within a few weeks or months with consistent use. <\/p>\n In its final draft guidance<\/a>, NICE said there was \u2018uncertainty in the economic model about how many healthcare appointments would be saved by using betula verrucosa\u2019.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Integrated care boards, local authorities and NHS England now have 90 days from the publication of the recommendation<\/a> to make betula verrucosa available as treatment.\u00a0 <\/p>\n \u2018But even when taking this into account, the likely cost-effectiveness estimates are all within the range that NICE considers an acceptable use of NHS resources\u2019, it said.\u00a0 <\/p>\n In a press release issued by ALK-Abell\u00f3, the Danish pharmaceutical company predicted \u2018significant cost savings\u2019 for GPs by creating a treatment option for moderate to severe hay fever sufferers. \u00a0 <\/p>\n It said: \u2018Severe tree pollen allergies place a considerable burden on the NHS, as the pollen season drives more people to visit their GP and specialist care. \u00a0 <\/p>\n \u2018This NICE recommendation provides an at-home treatment option that is highly cost-effective, providing significant cost savings to the NHS compared to the standard of care.\u2019\u00a0 <\/p>\n Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: \u2018Many people don\u2019t realise how awful it is having an itchy, runny nose, sneezing episodes or itchy, irritated eyes in the pollen season. \u00a0 <\/p>\n \u2018We frequently hear from people who avoid time outdoors, keep doors and windows shut, check pollen counts and try and minimise any exposure, which takes a significant toll on their physical and emotional well-being.\u2019\u00a0 <\/p>\n She said the recommendation \u2018provides a genuine opportunity for people to manage the root cause of their pollen allergy\u2019. \u00a0 <\/p>\n Dr Robin Gore, president of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI),\u00a0said the hay fever treatment \u2018marks a shift from simply managing symptoms to long-term disease modification\u2019 with treatment that \u2018targets the underlying cause of the allergy\u2019.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Earlier this year, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) encouraged medicines manufacturers to reclassify<\/a> their products from prescription-only to pharmacy medicines, including medicines for rhinitis. <\/p>\n