title: Fel d 1-derived peptide antigen desensitization shows a persistent treatment effect 1 year after the start of dosing: a randomized, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is an increasingly common source of morbidity, with sensitivity to cats accounting for 10% to 15% of disease burden. Allergy to cats is also a major risk factor for the development of asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to probe the persistence of the treatment effect of a novel F el d 1-derived peptide antigen desensitization (Cat-PAD) 1 year after the start of treatment in subjects with cat allergy-induced rhinoconjunctivitis after standardized allergen challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial, subjects attended an environmental exposure chamber in which they were exposed to cat allergen before and after treatment with 2 different regimens of Cat-PAD over a 3-month period. Clinical efficacy was assessed as a change in total rhinoconjunctivitis symptom scores 18 to 22 weeks and 50 to 54 weeks after the start of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with Cat-PAD showed greater efficacy with 4 administrations of a 6-nmol dose 4 weeks apart than with 8 administrations of a 3-nmol dose 2 weeks apart. The treatment effect of 6 nmol persisted 1 year after the start of treatment and was significantly different from that of 3 nmol (P = .0342) and placebo (P = .0104). The treatment effect was apparent on both nasal and ocular symptoms at 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short course of Cat-PAD improves the ocular and nasal components of rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms in subjects with cat allergy, with the treatment effect persisting 1 year after the start of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Cetero Research, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Deepen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couroux
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salapatek
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laidler
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larché
authors.forename: Roderick P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hafner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010455:Peptides; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus