Tablet re-trains immune system to protect against hay fever and thunderstorm asthma

A DAILY tablet could protect against hay fever and potentially deadly thunderstorm asthma, with Melbourne scientists making the life-changing breakthrough.

EXCLUSIVE: A DAILY tablet dissolved under the tongue can protect people against spring hay fever and thunderstorm asthma.

Melbourne scientists found it teaches the immune system to tolerate the allergen for up to a decade, if given daily for four months over three years.

By coincidence, the Alfred Hospital trial occurred during the thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne in November 2016, which claimed nine lives and forced thousands to seek emergency medical treatment.

Among the patients on the trial who were taking the tablet, none developed the potentially life-threatening complications.

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“None of our patients who had the treatment who were exposed to this event developed thunderstorm asthma,” The Alfred’s Director Allergy Professor Robyn O’Hehir said.

Among the patients on the trial who were not taking the drug, 40 per cent had an asthma exacerbation and went to the doctors or an emergency department.

People who have spring hayfever are vulnerable to epidemic thunderstorm asthma, which includes shortness of breath, wheeze and chest tightness.

40 per cent of trial patients who were not taking the drug had asthma exacerbation.

The drug used in the trial, Oralair, has already been shown to effectively treat spring hay fever and many people who go through the desensitisation program do not need further treatment for up to 10 years.

Prof O’Hehir, who is also from Monash University, said she initiated the trial in 38 patients because she wanted to see if the drug, which is usually taken for seven months for three years, could be effective in a shorter course.

“From past experiences with ‘allergy shots’ I thought that a shorter course would be sufficient.”

The study found giving patient a course of the tablets from June to September led to a significant improvement in hay fever symptoms within one year.

“Our study also showed a daily tablet of grass pollen, including rye grass, dissolved under the tongue for four months before spring in two or three consecutive years protected against the big epidemic thunderstorm event,” Prof O’Hehir said.

The tablet is dissolved under the tongue and can protect people against spring hay fever and thunderstorm asthma.

The drug is not on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, but people can access it for around $350 for four months with a referral to an allergist from their General Practitioner.

It’s estimated in the City of Melbourne alone 1.84 million people are sensitised to rye grass and 790,000 have clinical allergic rhinitis, or spring hay fever.

Prof O’Hehir recommends people with seasonal hay fever visit their GP in October to prepare an asthma plan for the November thunderstorms.

The study was in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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