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Grass pollen tablet effective up to 2 years after treatment

The 300IR five-grass pollen tablet effectively reduced the daily combined score, daily rhinoconjunctivitis total symptom score and daily rescue medication score in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis 2 years after treatment stopped, according to study results.

Alain Didier, MD, of the department of respiratory diseases at the Rangueil-Larrey Hospital in France, and colleagues conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter phase 3 trial composed 633 adults aged 18 to 50 years with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to see how effective the grass pollen tablet was during treatment as well as how effective it was post-treatment.

Patients initially received a daily sublingual tablet containing either 300IR five-grass pollen extract (n = 414) or placebo (n = 219) during the first 3 years and were followed for 1 year after treatment. The main outcome measures had previously been reported; however, the researchers increased the length after treatment to 2 years.

At the end of the fifth year, 377 patients remained in the study. During the first post-treatment year, both the tablet 2 months (P = .0019) prior to grass pollen season and 4 months prior (P = .0103) to grass pollen season effectively reduced the least squares mean daily combined score, compared with placebo.

During the second post-treatment year, patients receiving the tablet for 4 months exhibited a difference in least squares mean daily combined score (P = .0478).

“These findings confirm that the favorable long-term [allergic rhinoconjunctivitis] symptom management of the 300IR five-grass pollen tablet extends to 2 years post-treatment, building on the results of previous analyses of this study,” the researchers wrote.

Disclosure: Didier reports receiving honoraria from Stallergenes for participation in expert advisory board meetings and for coordination of clinical studies on the five-grass pollen tablet. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.