ALK-Abelló: New medicine for house dust mite allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma now available in France

Copenhagen, 2018-02-21 10:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Allergy immunotherapy company ALK today announced that its sublingual allergy
immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet ACARIZAX is now available on prescription in
France for adults who suffer from house dust mite (HDM) allergic rhinitis and
allergic asthma. France is the biggest HDM allergy market in Europe and the
launch represents an opportunity for ALK to accelerate growth. 

Allergic rhinitis affects nearly a quarter of the population, equivalent to an
estimated 113 million people in Europe. Of these, ALK estimates that one in ten
adults has a condition that is not well controlled, experiencing persistent
moderate to severe symptoms despite the use of symptom-relieving medications. 

For some of these patients, ACARIZAX may be a relevant treatment option that
can improve their quality of life and potentially modify the underlying cause
of their disease. 

Home-based treatment

ACARIZAX is a home-based treatment for adult patients (18-65 years) who have
been diagnosed by clinical history and sensitisation to HDM and who have
persistent moderate-to-severe HDM allergic rhinitis despite the use of
symptom-relieving medication and/or HDM allergic asthma which is not well
controlled by inhaled corticosteroids and is associated with mild-to-severe HDM
allergic rhinitis. 

According to Professor Pascal Demoly (CHU Montpellier-France): "House dust
mites can trigger allergic rhinitis symptoms and allergic asthma attacks but
the condition is under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-treated. As a
result patients suffer interrupted sleep, lost work and school days, and an
impaired quality of life." 

New treatment option

Nicolas Dufourt, General Manager for ALK France, said: "Research shows that
allergy immunotherapy is an effective way of treating the underlying cause of
allergic disease. With the launch of ACARIZAX, HDM allergic rhinitis and
allergic asthma patients in France can now be prescribed an approved product
with a documented effect in both conditions, offering physicians a new
treatment option and offering patients the opportunity to gain better control
of their disease." 

ACARIZAX is the first HDM SLIT-tablet to be approved for use in Europe and its
safety and efficacy were evaluated in the world's largest ever allergy
immunotherapy clinical trial programme, involving more than 6,000 patients. 

ACARIZAX is the second SLIT-tablet to be launched by ALK in Europe, and joins
GRAZAX for grass pollen allergy in the ALK product range. 

Patients should consult their allergy specialist to find out whether ACARIZAX
is suitable for them. 

                                 ALK-Abelló A/S

For further information please contact:

Media: Jeppe Ilkjær, tel. [phone], mobile [phone]

About house dust mite allergy

House dust mites (HDM) are the most common cause of allergy in the world.
HDM-induced allergy is estimated to affect around 90 million people in Europe,
North America and Japan, and more than 100 million in China. It is estimated
that one in 10 adults with allergic rhinitis are poorly controlled with current
standard therapies. The condition appears early in life, is present all year
round and patients face an elevated risk of developing asthma and other
allergies. 

About ALK

ALK is a global specialty pharmaceutical company focused on allergy and
allergic asthma. It markets allergy immunotherapy treatments and other products
and services for people with allergy and allergy doctors. Headquartered in
Hørsholm, Denmark, ALK employs around 2,300 people worldwide and is listed on
Nasdaq Copenhagen. Find more information at www.alk.net.

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