A Real-Life One-Year Non-Interventional Study Assessing Safety, Tolerability, and Treatment Outcome of the SQ HDM SLIT-Tablet (Acarizax®) in House Dust Mite Allergic Rhinitis With or Without Asthma

Management of Allergic Rhinitis in the United Arab Emirates: Expert Consensus Recommendations on Allergen Immunotherapy

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the upper airways caused by a type I hypersensitivity reaction triggered by environmental allergens. AR is associated with significant morbidity and affects patients' quality of life, emotional well-being, productivity, and cognitive functioning. As AR prevalence and morbidity have increased significantly worldwide, similar observations have been noted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with AR becoming a potential public health issue. Management of AR in the UAE is mainly provided by non-allergy specialists relying on first-line treatments such as intranasal steroids and antihistamines, with often suboptimal and short-term efficacy. Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT) is the only currently available disease-modifying treatment option in the form of either subcutaneous or sublingual allergen immunotherapy that has been proven to have long-term benefits. This article aims to provide recommendations regarding the use of AIT for managing AR in the UAE, considering both the current landscape in the Emirati healthcare system and local experience.

Efficacy of Adjuvant Sublingual Immunotherapy After Septomeatoplasty

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of adjuvant sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in correcting structural problems in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) caused by mite who have undergone septomeatoplasty (SMP) has not been studied.

METHODS

This non-randomized controlled study recruited patients with AR (caused by mite) and concurrent septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy, at a tertiary hospital in Taiwan. SMP was performed on all patients as a surgical intervention. The patients were then divided into two groups: the control group, which underwent surgery only, and the experimental group, which received SLIT as an adjuvant treatment. Demographic data and rhinitis control assessment test (RCAT) results were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 96 patients were enrolled in the study (SMP + SLIT group, n = 52; SMP only group, n = 44). No significant differences were observed in any of the variables between the two groups before and one month after surgery. However, during evaluations at the third and sixth month, the SMP + SLIT group showed significant improvement in the total RCAT scores compared to the SMP only group (28.6 ± 1.56 vs. 24.5 ± 3.66, p < 0.001; 27.1 ± 2.87 vs. 19.9 ± 5.56, p < 0.001). In addition, significantly better control of all RCAT sub-categories was observed in the SMP + SLIT group at the third and sixth month evaluations.

CONCLUSIONS

SLIT may serve as an ideal adjuvant therapy after SMP in patients with AR.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 134:3073-3079, 2024.

House dust mite sublingual allergen immunotherapy tablet is safe and well-tolerated in Dutch clinical practice

Background

Half (49%) of clinically diagnosed allergic rhinitis (AR) patients are sensitized to house dust mite (HDM). If allergen avoidance and symptomatic medication fail, allergen immunotherapy may be indicated.

Objective

We investigated safety and tolerability of HDM-sublingual immunotherapy by HDM-SLIT tablets in Dutch daily clinical practice.

Methods

Daily intake of 12 SQ-HDM SLIT-tablet was investigated in a prospective, multicenter, observational study (EUPAS43753). It comprised 4 consultations in 1 year. Data on safety, tolerability, treatment satisfaction, symptomatic medication, compliance, and clinical effectiveness (Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test; CARAT) were collected. Descriptive and longitudinal regression data analysis were performed.

Results

Adult patients (n = 415), mean (SD) age 36.6 (12.2) years, 61.4% female and 36% asthmatic were included. The preponderance (65.1%) experienced adverse events (AEs). These, mostly mild (67%), AEs comprised: oral allergic reactions (58.6%), respiratory (12.4%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (9.4%). Sixty (14.5%) patients stopped due to AEs and 76 (18.3%) for non-AE reasons. CARAT scores improved clinically significant by 6 points and symptomatic medication use decreased from 96.1% to 77.4%. Most patients (74.5%) tolerated the treatment and were compliant (>86.5%). The majority of patients (62.4%) and investigators (69.4%) were satisfied with treatment.

Conclusions

HDM SLIT-tablet is a safe and well-tolerated AR treatment. AEs occur often but are mostly mild and decreasing during the first year. CARAT scores improved and symptomatic medication use decreased suggesting better control of AR with treatment. Compliance, tolerability, and treatment satisfaction are good. However, patient follow-up and compliance remain important points of attention when initiating treatment.

Allergen immunotherapy: progress and future outlook

INTRODUCTION

Allergy, the immunological hypersensitivity to innocuous environmental compounds, is a global health problem. The disease triggers, allergens, are mostly proteins contained in various natural sources such as plant pollen, animal dander, dust mites, foods, fungi and insect venoms. Allergies can manifest with a wide range of symptoms in various organs, and be anything from just tedious to life-threatening. A majority of all allergy patients are self-treated with symptom-relieving medicines, while allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only causative treatment option.

AREAS COVERED

This review will aim to give an overview of the state-of-the-art allergy management, including the use of new biologics and the application of biomarkers, and a special emphasis and discussion on current research trends in the field of AIT.

EXPERT OPINION

Conventional AIT has proven effective, but the years-long treatment compromises patient compliance. Moreover, AIT is typically not offered in food allergy. Hence, there is a need for new, effective and safe AIT methods. Novel routes of administration (e.g. oral and intralymphatic), hypoallergenic AIT products and more effective adjuvants holds great promise. Most recently, the development of allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies for passive immunotherapy may also allow treatment of patients currently not treated or treatable.

The SQ HDM SLIT-Tablet is safe and well tolerated in patients with House Dust Mite allergic rhinitis with or without asthma: A "real-life" French study

Background

The SQ House Dust Mite (HDM) SubLingual ImmunoTherapy (SLIT)‐Tablet (Acarizax) is the only allergen immunotherapy authorized by European regulatory authorities to treat HDM‐induced allergic asthma (AA) that is not well‐controlled by inhaled corticosteroids and associated with mild‐to‐severe HDM allergic rhinitis (AR). The aim of this study was to add evidence on the safety of the SQ HDM SLIT‐Tablet in patients with AR, alone or with AA, under real‐life conditions.

Methods

This was a French “real‐life”, multicenter, non‐comparative, longitudinal, prospective study. It included patients initiating the SQ HDM SLIT‐Tablet for either persistent moderate‐to‐severe HDM AR or AA not well‐controlled by inhaled corticosteroids and associated with mild‐to‐severe HDM AR. Adverse Events (AEs) were collected at the first intake and throughout the study. Logistic regression was used to compare safety according to asthma control before treatment initiation.

Results

Between May 09, 2018 and May 29, 2019, 1526 patients were enrolled at 185 sites and 1483 were included in the safety population (SAF). Of them, 33.6% had suspected clinical manifestations of AA. Asthma was uncontrolled for 18.2% of the patients, partially controlled for 27.9% and well‐controlled for 53.8%. Overall, 31.9% of the SAF patients experienced at least one AE. The percentage of patients with AEs was 29.9% among patients with AR alone and 35.9% among those with AA (p = 0.0193). No significant difference was observed in the rate of AE or SAE depending on asthma control at inclusion (2.2% of SAEs reported for patients with uncontrolled asthma, 1.4% for partly controlled and 1.1% for well‐controlled).

Conclusions

The overall results indicate a good SQ HDM SLIT‐Tablet safety profile consistent with that reported in previous studies, regardless of asthma control.

Allergen immunotherapy against house dust mites in patients with local allergic rhinitis and asthma

METHODS

The study was a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with patients diagnosed with LAR to HDMs and with concomitant asthma who underwent a 12-month treatment course of SLIT for HDM allergies. Seventeen patients were randomized to SLIT with the use of allergen extracts of D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae (50/50%) in SQ-HDM SLIT tablets and 15 patients were randomized to the placebo group. The total rhinitis score (TRSS), total asthma symptom score (TASS), combined total symptom score (TSS), total medication score (TMS), and FEV1 were analyzed.Results: In the final analysis, 16 patients who received SLIT and 14 who received placebo who completed the study protocol were included. Significant reductions in TRSS, TASS, TSS, and TMS after 12 months of treatment were observed in patients after SLIT (p < 0.05). A significant increase in the mean FEV1 between baseline and after 12 months of therapy was observed in the study, with p = 0.03 in the study group. Conclusion: SLIT can improve nasal and bronchial symptoms and reduce symptomatic treatment in patients with LAR and asthma and with hyperresponsiveness to HDMs.