Allergy Experts Address Pivotal Questions in Treatment of Grass Pollen Allergy Sufferers

Copenhagen, Denmark (ots/PRNewswire) -

And highlight a decade of clinical evidence demonstrating
long-term efficacy

and tolerability of once-daily GRAZAX(R) SLIT-tablet at EAACI 2014

A group of eminent allergy and respiratory professors presented
data specifically addressing numerous key questions within the
allergy community concerning grass SLIT-tablets, with specific focus
on GRAZAX(R), for the treatment of grass pollen allergy. They cite 10
years of clinical evidence in more than 14,000 patients for GRAZAX(R)
SLIT-tablet as a well-tolerated and effective treatment with a
sustained long-term effect for grass pollen allergy, and have invited
colleagues to re-evaluate the robustness and strength of GRAZAX(R)
data given the number of suitable patient candidates for grass
SLIT-tablets. GRAZAX(R) SLIT-tablet has been available in Europe
since 2006, and became available in North America in February 2014.

Data presented today to physicians at the European Academy of
Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) congress showed that the ALK
grass SLIT-tablet, GRAZAX(R), is an efficacious treatment option for
patients with clinically relevant symptoms to any of the temperate
grasses. Indirect comparisons also demonstrated grass SLIT-tablets
(sub-lingual immunotherapy) and grass SCIT (sub-cutaneous
immunotherapy) are equally efficacious. Furthermore, grass
SLIT-tablets have the benefit of being less invasive than SCIT, and
convenient for patients to take in their own home rather than having
to visit the hospital or doctor's office.

Importantly, data presented also support that the once-daily, fast
dissolving GRAZAX(R) SLIT-tablets are documented to have sustained
long-term effect during 3 years of treatment and 2 years post
treatment, making it the only grass allergy immunotherapy tablet
(AIT) with an authorised indication for disease-modifying treatment
of grass pollen induced allergic rhinitis in adults and children.

"Compared with other therapies, GRAZAX(R) SLIT-tablets have
demonstrated a favourable risk-to-benefit profile, both among
children and adults," said Professor Ronald Dahl at Odense University
Hospital. "Given what we've learned on the proven efficacy,
tolerability and compliance of GRAZAX(R) SLIT-tablets, I encourage
all allergists to ask 'are we translating this clinical evidence into
clinical practice?' when treating grass pollen allergy patients."

When compared with other grass AIT modalities, grass SLIT-tablets
are the only AIT class for which robust clinical benefit in children
has been demonstrated. In fact, the clinical benefit for grass
SLIT-tablets in children is comparable to that in adults after 1 year
of treatment. Data also demonstrated the safety profile and fast
dissolving formulation makes GRAZAX(R) SLIT-tablet especially
suitable for use within the paediatric population (5 to 18 years of
age).

Multiple sets of clinical data from the last 10 years were
presented during the symposium specific to efficacy, safety,
medication adherence and favourable tolerability profile in patients
with concomitant controlled asthma, among other areas. Additionally,
faculty discussed suitable patient candidates for GRAZAX(R)
SLIT-tablets to effectively treat grass pollen allergic rhinitis.

ALK-Abelló A/S

For further information please contact:

Press:
Martin Barlebo, tel. +45-4574-7901, mobile +45-2064-1143

Medical:
Dr. Simon Lawton, tel. +45-4574-7939, mobile +45-4190-4448

About ALK

ALK is a research-driven global pharmaceutical company focusing on
allergy prevention, diagnosis and treatment. ALK is the world leader
in allergy immunotherapy - a unique treatment of the underlying cause
of allergy. The company has approximately 1,800 employees with
subsidiaries, production facilities and distributors worldwide. ALK
has entered into partnership agreements with Merck and Torii to
commercialise sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablets in North
America and Japan, respectively. The company is headquartered in
Hørsholm, Denmark, and listed on NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen. Find more
information at http://www.alk.net.

ots Originaltext: ALK
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de