ALK Abello reports positive data from allergy drug trial

ALK Abello's new allergy immunotherapy tablet for house dust mite-induced respiratory diseases has shown its efficacy in a new clinical study.

Data from Merit – the first of two planned phase III trials of the drug – showed that the compound was able to significantly reduce symptoms and medication use in patients affected by this condition, thus meeting the primary efficacy endpoint of the trial.

ALK Abello's drug also demonstrated a favourable safety profile, suggesting the product could be a useful new means of addressing the world's most common cause of allergy.

The pharmaceutical company is planning to file for regulatory approval of its new therapy in 2014.

Executive vice-president Henrik Jacobi, head of research and development at ALK, said: "Allergy immunotherapy tablets are an efficacious and convenient treatment for the many patients experiencing poor disease control."

ALK Abello is responsible for the production of a number of allergy treatments, including Grazax, its therapy for sufferers of grass allergies.