Investigational allergy drug reduces ragweed allergy symptoms

Today, Merck announced the results of a clinical study of its investigational allergy immunotherapy tablet (AIT) for ragweed pollen. The study results showed that the ragweed AIT significantly reduced nasal and eye symptoms as well as the use of rescue allergy medicines, compared to placebo, in ragweed-allergic adults. The study was conducted during peak ragweed pollen season. Merck's AIT is an investigational, dissolvable oral tablet designed to treat the underlying cause of allergies, and is being studied to determine whether AIT may help prevent allergy symptoms by generating an immune response to protect against targeted allergens. The company is investigating disease-modifying AITs for allergies caused by ragweed pollen, grass pollen and house dust mites. Merck has partnered with ALK-Abello to develop AITs to treat these allergens in North America and plans to file New Drug Applications for ragweed and grass AITs with the US Food and Drug Administration in 2013.