Grazax: an oral vaccine for the treatment of grass pollen allergy (hay fever).

Abstract

Grazax is a self-administered, once-daily, tablet-based vaccine that offers an alternative to allergy shots for adults with grass pollen allergy (hay fever). (2) Evidence from three randomized controlled trials indicates modest improvements in hay fever symptoms, with reduced use of medication to control symptoms (rescue medication use) in adults who took Grazax compared with placebo. No studies have compared Grazax with injection-based allergen immunotherapy. (3) It is not yet known if patients treated with Grazax will have a sustained tolerance to grass pollen following treatment discontinuation. (4) Adverse effects of Grazax are generally mild to moderate local allergic reactions of short duration, and include itching and swelling of the mouth, and throat irritation. (5) If Grazax becomes widely prescribed and is covered by provincial drug plans, the costs to the Canadian health care system and the impact on allergy specialist services could be substantial.

• Authors: C Allison, J Fraser
• Journal: Issues in emerging health technologies (Issues Emerg Health Technol) Issue 107 Pg. 1-4 (Nov 2007) ISSN: 1488-6316 [Print] Canada
• PMID: 18041171 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Anti-Allergic Agents
• Tablets
• Vaccines

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Allergens (administration & dosage, adverse effects, economics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Anti-Allergic Agents (administration & dosage, economics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Canada
• Conjunctivitis, Allergic (drug therapy, immunology, prevention & control)
• Desensitization, Immunologic (adverse effects, economics, methods)
• Drug Approval
• Europe
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Poaceae (immunology)
• Pollen (immunology)
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal (drug therapy, immunology, prevention & control)
• Tablets
• Time Factors
• United States
• Vaccines (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)