An international team of researchers, led by physician-scientists at Johns Hopkins, reports that a once-daily tablet containing a high dose of a key ragweed pollen protein effectively blocks the runny noses, sneezes, nasal congestion and itchy eyes experienced by ragweed allergy sufferers.
Tests showed that treatment with the pill, which contains the protein Ambrosia artemisiifolia major allergen 1, and is placed under the tongue to be absorbed, also reduced the need for anti-allergy drugs to get relief. More than 80 million Americans are allergic to ragweed.
The study is believed to be the first and largest, multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of its kind to investigate the use of sublingual immunotherapy against ragweed allergy. Begun in April 2010, it was funded by the drug’s manufacturer, Merck of Whitehouse Station, N.J.
Results of the trial, published today in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, showed that overall symptoms and need for such allergy medications as antihistamines and nasal steroids fell by 27 percent in people who took a pill containing 12 units of the allergen. During peak ragweed season, the roughly two-week period between August and October when pollen counts are highest, symptoms and medication use dropped 24 percent.
Researchers say that if the pill wins approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it could serve as a more convenient, less painful option than weekly or monthly allergy shots. The pill also presents fewer potential side effects than allergen injections.
“Our results show this oral tablet for ragweed allergy is highly effective and well-tolerated, and offers considerable relief from what many allergy sufferers consider the most agonizing part of the year,” says allergist and lead study investigator Peter Creticos, M.D.
Some 784 men and women from the United States, Canada, Hungary, Russia and the Ukraine volunteered to take part in the year-long study, in which participants were randomly assigned to take either a high-, medium-, or low-dose tablet, or placebo. Neither researchers nor study participants were aware of which dose of the pill or placebo they were taking. Patients kept track of their symptoms and medication use through detailed and daily diaries, which were later scored by researchers for analysis.
“Physicians treating ragweed allergy sufferers may soon have an alternative to the current approach to managing ragweed allergy, which usually involves weekly or monthly visits to the doctor’s office for allergy shots and carries the risk of swelling and pain at the injection site, plus risk of anaphylactic shock,” says Creticos, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Creticos says that no adverse events occurred during the study. The only side effects observed were mild throat irritation, itchy tongue and swollen lips.
The Latest Bing News on:
Ragweed Allergy
- Combatting springtime allergieson April 26, 2024 at 4:52 am
Tree pollen, grass and weed pollen along with mold and ragweed are especially problematic for those sensitive to airborne allergens.
- Lisa Jarvis: You’re not imagining it. Your allergies are getting worseon April 26, 2024 at 3:48 am
If you’ve sensed that your allergies are getting worse each year, it’s not your imagination: Allergy season in the U.S. is getting longer and more intense. You can thank climate change for your misery ...
- Pollen pain: Why some trees - not others - cause runny-nose, itchy-eye misery for allergy suffererson April 26, 2024 at 2:00 am
CLEVELAND, Ohio - If you’re one of the 30% of the population afflicted with pollen-related allergies, you might be miserable right now. Then again, you might not. If it’s grass or ragweed that you are ...
- Allergies or illness?: What Las Vegas residents can do to help relieve symptomson April 25, 2024 at 11:57 am
It's the time of year when many Americans are grabbing for the tissues.According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 60 million people in this coun ...
- What's up with the pollen in the DMV right now?on April 25, 2024 at 10:48 am
“Plenty of oak, pine, sycamore, mulberry and a host of other tree species keeping the pollen in the high range. Later flowering hickory and walnut species are also contributing to the count. Outdoor ...
- How to survive seasonal allergies in Maineon April 24, 2024 at 3:17 pm
Allergy season starts for some in April or May in Maine where most of the spring pollen comes from trees like pine, maple or oak. Those are quickly followed by dandelion pollen which often gets a ...
- Miami seeing ‘intense’ pollen. Two Florida cities are ‘allergy capitals.’ What to knowon April 23, 2024 at 6:48 am
Its been “pretty intense,” said Kumar, who has monitored pollen in the region since 2017 and is the director of UM’s Climate and Health graduate program. The researcher said South Florida has seen ...
- Can Pollen Allergies Be Helped By Cannabison April 22, 2024 at 3:55 pm
The Fresh Toast - It is the sniffling and sneezing season for many. Can pollen allegories be helped by cannabis.
- Here's what to know about allergy season in Pueblo and how to manage your symptomson April 22, 2024 at 8:00 am
Allergy season is in full force in Pueblo, which has a climate that doesn't do it any favors. Here's what to know, according to a local ENT doctor.
- Why Seasonal Allergies Are So Miserableon April 19, 2024 at 4:01 am
Flowers and trees are in bloom—and so are pollen allergies.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Ragweed Allergy
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Ragweed Allergy” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Oral tablet for ragweed allergy
- The three types of hay fever in Britain – and how to manage the one you’ve goton April 28, 2024 at 7:00 am
You might still be wearing your winter coat but, like millions, suffering from hay fever – the unpleasant reminder that it is in fact spring.
- What Is Allergic Rhinitis?on April 16, 2024 at 9:30 am
Allergic rhinitis is inflammation inside your nose in response to an allergen. When pollen causes allergic rhinitis, it's referred to as hay fever.
- Page settingson December 20, 2023 at 11:23 am
It’s a time to celebrate being outdoors, but for allergy ... in tablet form, known as sublingual immunotherapy. The tablets, which are placed under the tongue and swallowed, are approved by the Food ...
- Everything You Need to Know About Immunotherapy for Allergieson December 20, 2023 at 2:06 am
For sublingual treatment, the approach may vary based on the type you receive, such as ragweed ... tablet immunotherapy, but some do not. Also, because allergy drops are not FDA-approved, they are not ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Oral tablet for ragweed allergy
[google_news title=”” keyword=”oral tablet for ragweed allergy” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]