Merck, Sharp and Dohme receives FDA approval for dust allergy drug

Merck, Sharp and Dohme has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Odactra, a drug designed to combat the symptoms of dust mite allergies.

Odactra is designed to be taken sublingually to reduce symptoms such as conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis in patients who are allergic to house dust mites.

The drug has been approved by the FDA for use by patients aged between 18 and 65, with guidelines stating that Odactra is first taken under the supervision of a healthcare professional. If no reactions occur within 30 minutes of its administration, patients can then continue to take the once-daily oral tablet at home.

Trials comparing the effects of Odactra to a placebo involving some 2,500 participants found that the allergy drug could reduce symptoms and the requirement for additional medication by 16 to 18 percent compared to placebo.

Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, commented: "House dust mite allergic disease can negatively impact a person's quality of life. The approval of Odactra provides patients with an alternative treatment to allergy shots to help address their symptoms."

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