title: Ultra-short-course seasonal allergy vaccine (Pollinex Quattro).
abstract: This novel ultra-short-course seasonal allergy vaccine, containing glutaraldehyde-modified allergens and the adjuvants 3-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and L-tyrosine, requires a preseasonal course of only four injections to be effective in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. In patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and/or allergic asthma, a four-injection vaccination course with either the grass pollen or tree pollen allergy vaccine significantly reduced skin prick sensitivity reactions, significantly elevated allergen-specific IgG levels and significantly reduced the seasonally induced boost of IgE. Preseasonal vaccination of adult patients with either grass pollen or tree pollen allergy vaccine significantly reduced the median combined symptom/medication score compared with placebo. Similarly, preseasonal vaccination of children and adolescents with allergies to grass pollen or tree pollen significantly reduced the global symptom and medication use scores compared with the previous pollen season. Postmarketing surveillance indicated that after a course of vaccination, 82% of patients experienced reduced symptoms and 62% reduced their rescue medication use compared with the previous season. The allergy vaccine was generally well tolerated. Local reactions, mainly injection-site redness and swelling, were more common than systemic reactions. There were no serious adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Adis International Limited, 51 Centorian Drive, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 1311, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Antona J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wagstaff
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008050:Lipid A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D008050:Lipid A; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014612:Vaccines; C433085:ragweed pollen; C048436:monophosphoryl lipid A