NEW TREATMENT FOR COMMON ALLERGIES
Researchers
have successfully tested treatments for people with allergies to grasses and to
dust mites.
There are two
treatments, one for grass allergy, which is commonly known as hay fever, and
the other for dust mite allergy. They are expected to be helpful for the
millions of people who, as a reaction to grass pollen or the tiny bugs that
live in house dust, have sneezing, itching eyes and a running nose that often
significantly impacts their productivity at school or work.
The two studies were
conducted by Adiga Life Sciences, a joint venture between McMaster University
and Circassia, a U.K. based biotechnology company, and was supported by St.
Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.
It is estimated that
together, these allergens are responsible for more than 50% of allergic
respiratory disease. Between 15 and 25 per cent of the population in North
America and Europe is sensitive to pollen from different grass species. One in
four people is sensitized to house dust mites, more than any other common
allergen, which includes millions of people in these regions.
The treatments are
from a new class of therapy, known as 'synthetic peptide immuno-regulatory
epitopes', or SPIREs.
The 280 patients in
the phase two clinical trial for the grass allergy treatment recorded their
allergy symptoms while exposed to grass pollen in a controlled environment,
both before treatment and at the end of the hay fever season. Study
participants received one of three treatment regimens over three months,
completed prior to the beginning of the pollen season. Those who had the
optimal short course of therapy had significantly improved symptoms at the end
of the season, compared to those who had a placebo. This treatment, called
Grass-SPIRE, was well tolerated.
During the clinical
trial for the dust mite treatment, 172 patients who received four doses of the
treatment over 12 weeks had significantly improved allergy symptoms a year
after the start of treatment, compared to patients who received a placebo. The
treatment, called HDM-SPIRE, was well tolerated.
"This result is
an important validation of the approach we are taking to treat allergic
diseases," said Mark Larché, who led the design of the treatments.
"Positive results, first with a cat allergy therapy and now with house
dust mite and grass allergy treatments, suggest that this approach may be used
for many common allergies."
Larché is a professor
of medicine of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster and
member of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health at St. Joseph's
Healthcare Hamilton.
Hay fever is a
seasonal response to many different grass pollens which are heaviest in the
spring and fall.
Dust mites are close
relatives of spiders and ticks and are too small to see without a microscope.
They eat skin cells shed by people, and they thrive in warm, humid environments.
Upholstered furniture, bedding and carpeting provide an ideal environment for
dust mites
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