Nasal spray found effective in reducing symptoms from house dust mite allergic rhinitis

A nasal spray significantly and safely reduced nasal symptoms resulting from allergy to house dust mites compared with no treatment, according to a press release issued by the spray’s manufacturer.

The drug-free AM-301 (Bentrio, Altamira Therapeutics) nasal spray forms a protective gel layer on the nasal mucosa after application and keeps viruses and allergens from coming in contact with cells, the company said.

AM-301 also binds these particles to help discharge them and humidify the nasal mucosa, reducing the risk for upper respiratory tract viral infections and alleviating allergic symptoms, Altamira Therapeutics continued.

A single-site trial evaluated AM-301 among 37 patients aged 18 to 65 years with a history of more than 1 year of perennial allergic rhinitis caused by exposure to house dust mites (HDMs), which the company called the prime cause of respiratory allergies.

These participants also had a positive skin prick test for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen at screening or within 12 months of the screening visit.

Participants received a single or double dose per nostril or no dose at all before experiencing the allergen for 3 hours in an environmental exposure chamber. The researchers measured the participants’ total nasal symptom score (TNSS) including nasal congestion, runny nose, itching and sneezing at baseline and at 20-minute intervals.

The participants who used AM-301 had a mean TNSS of 4.1 points, whereas those who did not had a mean TNSS of 5.2 points, showing the treatment reduced the increase in the mean TNSS by 1.1 points (95% CI, –1.87 to –0.28). These differences began at the 40-minute mark and reached 1.5 to 2 points from the middle of the exposure to the end.

According to the company, there was no meaningful difference between the single- and double-dose groups.

The few adverse events that occurred were mostly mild, and more than 85% of the participants rated the spray’s tolerability as “good” or “very good.”

“We are delighted with the outcome from the house dust mite challenge study, as it confirms Bentrio’s ability to effectively and safely protect against various types of airborne allergens,” Thomas Meyer, PhD, founder, chair and CEO of Altamira Therapeutics, said in the release.

The data from this study are congruent with the company’s previous study of grass pollen in seasonal allergic rhinitis, Meyer continued.

“We look forward to continuing the commercial rollout of Bentrio, helping to provide relief for those many allergy sufferers who have been looking for an effective over-the-counter treatment without any drug or preservative ingredients,” Meyer said.

Reference:

• Efficacy and safety of AM-301 on allergic symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis sufferers. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05122143?term=Bentrio&draw=2&rank=1. Posted April 7, 2022. Accessed May 25, 2022.