A multicenter trial of immunotherapy with alginate--conjugated grass pollen extract.
Conjuvac, a new generation of allergen extracts, has been developed to meet the need for improved characterization, purification, and standardization. Conjuvac consists of a dialyzed, standardized aqueous allergen extract chemically conjugated to a sodium alginate carrier and lyophilized in single-dose vials, thus ensuring stability until reconstituted with sterile water just before each injection. A preliminary study of Conjuvac 2 Grass by Pegelow (1984) involving a small number of patients showed this extract to have potential advantages. Accordingly, a study involving more patients was undertaken: two different maintenance dose levels of Conjuvac 2 Grass were investigated and compared to a pyridine-extracted, alum-precipitated two-grass extract called Allpyral, which in previous double-blind trials has been shown to be effective. The trial, which included 125 patients with hay fever and which extended over 2 years, involved ten allergists from seven European countries. Overall, the Conjuvac high-dose regimen proved slightly superior to Allpyral without any increased incidence of side effects, and all treatments stimulated marked increases in specific IgG levels without raising IgE levels.
Bruno
G
G
Wüthrich
B
B
Ganderton
M A
MA
Horak
F
F
Hyldebrandt
N
N
Costello
J
J
Centner
J
J
Hunter
A
A
Sheehan
P B
PB
Frankland
A W
AW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000941:Antigens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000941:Antigens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D006023:Glycoproteins; C038866:conjuvac