GAP trial of Grazax (sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet) shows it can prevent asthma and relieve grass allergy symptoms- ALK

ALK has presented new data from the Grazax Asthma Prevention (GAP) trial with Grazax, ALK's allergy immunotherapy tablet against grass pollen allergy. The data confirm that Grazax can prevent asthma symptoms, as well as offering sustained relief from grass allergy symptoms. Moreover, immunological findings were highly supportive of the disease-modifying nature of the treatment. Grazax treatment reduced the proportion of patients with asthma symptoms or use of asthma medication Asthma medication included short-acting beta-2-agonist (SABA), systemic corticosteroid, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), long-acting beta-2-agonist (LABA), systemic corticosteroid, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), sustained-release theophylline, or cromolyn sodium. when evaluated at end of trial, i.e., two years post treatment.

Grazax treatment also reduced the proportion of patients experiencing asthma symptoms during the entire five year trial period (Odds Ratio: 0.71) with the effect most pronounced during the two year post-treatment period (Odds Ratio: 0.55). In addition, the treatment effect increased with time and was apparent both during the grass pollen season and during winter. Data were presented at the 2016 Annual Congress of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) in Vienna.