NICE has endorsed a new daily tablet treatment, Acarizax, designed to alleviate symptoms and enhance the quality of life for individuals with persistent moderate to severe house dust mite (HDM) allergic rhinitis.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued its final draft guidance, recommending the 12 SQ-HDM sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet, Acarizax, produced by ALK-Abello, as an effective treatment option. This recommendation is for individuals aged 12 to 65, marking the first time a treatment for persistent moderate to severe allergic rhinitis has received NICE's endorsement.
NICE’s Director of Medicines Evaluation, Helen Knight, said:
“For people with house dust mite allergic rhinitis that is not controlled by standard treatments, this new cost-effective drug will have a significant positive impact on their quality of life.
“This is a chronic, debilitating condition which can prevent people for going to their workplace or school. This medicine has been found to improve symptoms, helping people to live their lives and has potential to be truly life changing.”
Approximately 13,000 people in England are poised to benefit from this pioneering therapy. Acarizax works by progressively building the body's resistance to house dust mites. It is particularly advantageous for those whose symptoms have not been managed by conventional treatments such as steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines.
The treatment involves administering a fixed daily dose of house dust mite allergy extract over three years. This method aims to reduce the body's sensitivity to dust mites, thus alleviating symptoms over time. Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis include sneezing, an itchy nose, runny or blocked nose, and itchy, red, watery eyes. In severe cases, the condition can lead to debilitating effects like facial swelling, fatigue, and disrupted sleep.
Acarizax is recommended for individuals who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe and persistent allergic rhinitis through a combination of clinical history and a positive HDM allergy test, either via a skin prick or specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) test. The treatment will be available on the NHS in England within three months of the final guidance publication.
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