SUBLIVAC® Birch PROBE Study
Seasonal Rhinitis and/or Rhinoconjunctivitis, Birch Pollen Allergy
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Seasonal Rhinitis and/or Rhinoconjunctivitis focused on measuring seasonal, rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis, birch pollen, immunotherapy, sublingual
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Subjects with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis with or without mild asthma (FEV1 ≥ 70%) due to birch pollen for at least 2 years.
- Use of anti-allergy symptomatic medication in the last birch pollen season (in case of a season with low pollen counts, in one of the two previous years).
- No seasonal allergic complaints induced by birch, grasses or mugwort pollen for at least 4 weeks in the absence of rescue medication during at least the last 2 weeks before the baseline.
- A positive SPT (diameter ≥3 mm) for birch pollen and a positive specific serum anti birch IgE-test (>1 U/ml).
- A positive TNPT with a birch allergen extract containing a concentration of 10, 100 or 1000 AU/ml at the baseline visit.
- Age 18 years and older.
- Subjects shall give a written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- A positive SPT (diameter ≥ 3mm) for hazel or alder and the maintenance dose will not be reached before 8 October 2009.
- A positive SPT (diameter ≥ 3mm) for pets and symptoms related to concomitant sensitization to pets while having these animals at home.
- A positive SPT (diameter ≥ 3mm) for house dust mite or moulds and clinically relevant symptoms related to concomitant sensitization to house dust mite or moulds, based on the investigator's research (TNPT for example).
- Allergy to any of the excipients of SUBLIVAC Birch or Staloral Birch.
- Chronic asthma or emphysema, particularly with an FEV1 < 70 % of predicted value or use of inhalation corticosteroids outside grass and tree pollen season for more than two episodes and/or longer than fourteen days.
- Specific findings for nose and mouth at screening or rhinoscopy before TNPT.
- Serious immuno-pathological diseases or malignancies (including auto-immune diseases, tuberculosis, HIV).
- Inflammation or infection of the target organ (nose, eyes and lungs).
- Severe atopic dermatitis requiring systemic immuno-suppressive medication.
- Allergen specific immunotherapy treatment for a period longer than 3 months within the last 5 years.
- History of life threatening anaphylactic events, including anaphylactic food allergy, insect venom anaphylaxis, exercise or drug induced anaphylaxis.
- A positive pregnancy test, lactation or inadequate contraceptive measures. (adequate measures: oral contraceptives, IUD, condom use and having no sexual relationship with a man)
- Alcohol- or drug abuse.
- Lack of co-operation or severe psychological disorders.
- Completed or ongoing long-term treatment with tranquilizer or psycho active drugs.
- Low compliance or inability to understand instructions/study documents
- Completed or ongoing treatment with anti-IgE-antibody
- Patients being in any relationship or dependence with the sponsor or investigator
Sites / Locations
- Zentrum für Rhinologie & Allergologie
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Experimental
Staloral Birch
SUBLIVAC Birch
Start with 1 puff of Staloral Birch 10 I.R./ml on day one, 2 puffs on day two and increase by 2 puffs until at day six 10 puffs are reached. At day seven 1 puff of Staloral Birch 300 I.R./ml is taken, at day eight 2 puffs and day nine 4 puffs. From then on 4 puffs daily are taken. Duration of treatment: 16-20 weeks per subject (at least 12 weeks for subjects with hazel or alder allergy).
Start with 1 drop daily of SUBLIVAC Birch and increase by 1 drop daily, until the maintenance dose of 5 drops is reached. This maintenance dose should then be taken daily. Duration of treatment: 16-20 weeks per subject (at least 12 weeks for subjects with hazel or alder allergy).