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NEW – The desensitization tablet for house dust mite

NEW

The desensitization tablet  (which was already available for graspollen) is now available  for house dust mite since 2016 early.
It was given a nice name :
ACARIZAX (Acarus = House dust mite) Ax for (v)accination / (v)axination ?
So perhaps a pun coming from the word Vaxin? In short, we still keep us allergists ask the question which the latter syllable or may come.

Now about the product: It is a sublingual tablet, must melt under the tongue.

Our patients take the FIRST tablet on consultation, and stay with us under supervision during 30 minutes; let me say that the tablet under the tongue has been resorbed after 15 seconds !!! (It took of course a while getting used to, when I asked in the beginning with the drops to keep them two minutes under the tongue …)
It is recommended to place the tablet immediately from the container under the tongue, and not to tinker with the hands, it is such a fine tablet as it could partially melt due to the sweat on the fingers…

A difference with the injections, I have so far not seen some reactions with Acarizax (thery were very rare with the injections, and since the Alustal retard form, the injections are safer thanks to the slow reorption …)

But the number of patients who have begun with us since the beginning of the year, are not yet sufficient to have an idea about the possible side effects (statistically, we need more starting therapies before drawing conclusions …).

But this is very reassuring: The studies also show few side effects (source : ALK).

What does the Danish company ALK say,  the producer?
On the basis of the study MITRA (on 834 patients) we can  derive as follows:

ACARIZAX improves symptoms, reduces medication need and improves quality of life in patients with house dust mite allergy.

ACARIZAX provides an early onset of action which is maintained for a year-round effect.

ACARIZAX reduces the risk of asthma exacerbations during inhalated corticotherapy reduction in patients with house dust mite allergy.

ACARIZAX IS WELL-TOLERATED (source : ALK)

ACARIZAX is well-tolerated with most adverse events being mild-to-moderate local allergic reactions which tend to subside with continued treatment.

No severe local allergic reactions compromising airways or anaphylactic reactions have been reported in European clinical trials of ACARIZAX.

ACARIZAX is well-tolerated in patients with asthma including those with uncontrolled asthma.

Treatment with ACARIZAX is suitable for at-home administration in patients with house dust mite allergy and  respiratory  disease, providing that they have lung function (FEV,) >70% of predicted value and that their asthma status is carefully assessed and contraindications are adhered to.

Text written by Dr. Nadine Masy
University Degree in Allergology (University of Toulouse)
European Certificate in Allergology (European Exam – European Certificate of Excellence in Allergology and Clinical Immunology UEMS / EAACI )