SQ house dust mite (HDM) SLIT-tablet provides clinical improvement in HDM-induced allergic rhinitis

ABSTRACT

House dust mite (HDM) allergy represents a highly prevalent inhalant allergy, and exposure to HDM allergens results in allergic rhinitis with persistent symptoms that may not be adequately controlled with available allergy pharmacotherapy. Allergy immunotherapy constitutes a complementary treatment option targeting the underlying immunological mechanisms of allergic disease and represents the only treatment with a potential for disease modification and long-term efficacy. As traditional allergy immunotherapy delivered by subcutaneous injection of specific HDM allergens involves a time-consuming treatment regimen and a risk of systemic adverse reactions, sublingually administered allergy immunotherapy (SLIT) has been investigated as a more convenient treatment option with similar levels of efficacy and an improved safety profile that allows for at-home daily administration.

In this Drug Profile, we provide a review of the clinical data behind the SQ HDM SLIT-tablet, which was recently approved for the treatment of HDM-induced allergic rhinitis by regulatory authorities in Europe and Japan.

KEYWORDS:

• House dust mite
• allergy immunotherapy
• sublingual immunotherapy
• SLIT-tablet
• allergic rhinitis

Financial and competing interests disclosure

L Klimek has Board membership with MEDA Pharma, Germany, Bencard Allergie, Germany; has performed consultancy for ALK-Abelló, Denmark, Allergopharma, Deutschland, Bionorica, Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany, GSK, Great Britain, Lofarma, Italy, Novartis, Switzerland, MEDA Pharma, Germany, MSD, USA, Phadia/Thermofisher, Sweden, Optima, Germany; has grants/grants pending from ALK-Abelló, Denmark, Allergopharma, Germany, Artu-Biologicals, Netherlands, Bencard, Great Britain, Bionorica, Germany, Biomay, Austria, Cytos, Switzerland, HAL, Netherlands, Hartington, Spain, GSK, Great Britain, Leti, Spain, Lofarma, Italy, Novartis, Switzerland, Roxall, Germany; received payment for lectures including service on speakers bureaus from ALK-Abelló, Denmark, Allergopharma, Germany, Bionorica, Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany, GSK, Great Britain, Lofarma, Italy, Novartis, Switzerland, MEDA Pharma, Germany, MSD, USA, Phadia/Thermofisher, Sweden, Optima, Germany; and has received payment for manuscript preparation from MEDA Pharma, Germany, Dr. Pfleger, Germany, Bionorica, Germany. H Mosbech has acted as consultant for ALK-Abelló, Denmark. P Zieglmayer received lecture fees from ALK-Abelló, Denmark, Allergopharma, Germany, Bencard, Germany, Novartis, Austria, Stallergenes, Austria, Thermo Fisher Scientific, received grants from Allergopharma, Allergy Therapeutics, Biomay, Calistoga, GSK, HAL, MSD, Ono, Oxagen, RespiVert, Stallergenes, VentirX, and is a Sigmapharm, Stallergenes advisory board member. D Rehm and B S Stage are employed by ALK, the manufacturer of the SQ HDM SLIT-tablet. P Demoly has acted as a consultant and speaker for Stallergenes, Circassia, ALK, ThermoFisherScientific and Chiesi as well as speaker for Merck, Astra Zeneca, Allergopharma, Allergy Therapeutics and GlaxoSmithKline. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

ALK, the manufacturer of the SQ HDM SLIT-tablet, provided and funded medical writing assistance. The authors would like to acknowledge Ida Mosbech Smith, ALK, for assistance with medical writing, editorial assistance, and submission assistance.