Hayfever sufferers set to get new drug which will provide ‘a better quality of life'
It has been recommended as an option on the NHS for people whose hayfever symptoms persist even after taking antihistamines or using nasal sprays, by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).
Betula verrucosa, sold under the brand name Itulazax 12 SQ-Bet and made by Alk-Abello, is an under-the-tongue immunotherapy tablet that contains birch pollen extract.
The drug trains the immune system to tolerate tree pollen over three years of daily use.
Severe tree pollen allergies can cause debilitating symptoms for some people during the spring and summer months, including fatigue, breathing difficulties, inflamed sinuses, itchy, watery eyes, and vision changes.
Trials show the tablet can significantly reduce the symptoms of severe hayfever by changing how the body responds to allergens.
The immunotherapy works by gradually increasing the body's tolerance to tree pollen through controlled daily exposure to small amounts of pollen.
Before being given the tablets, patients will require skin prick or blood tests to confirm an allergy to birch tree pollen.
Nice estimates that about 27,000 people in England are expected to benefit from the recommendation.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: 'This treatment will help improve people's quality of life.
Trials show the tablet can significantly reduce the symptoms of severe hayfever by changing how the body responds to allergens ((Alamy/PA))
'Severe tree pollen allergies trap people indoors during beautiful weather and disrupt their work, education and family life.
'The daily tablet offers genuine long-term relief rather than just managing symptoms.'
According to Allergy UK, birch pollen allergy is estimated to affect about 25% of hayfever sufferers.
Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: 'Many people don't realise how awful it is having an itchy, runny nose, sneezing episodes or itchy, irritated eyes in the pollen season.
'We frequently hear from people who avoid time outdoors, keep doors and windows shut, check pollen counts and try and minimise any exposure, which takes a significant toll on their physical and emotional wellbeing.
'Nice's recommendation is so important because it provides a genuine opportunity for people to manage the root cause of their pollen allergy, offering the chance to break free from this burden and enjoy a better quality of life.'
Emil Stage Olsen, general manager UK and Republic of Ireland at ALK, added: 'We welcome this positive Nice recommendation, which is another meaningful advancement for the UK allergy community.
'Our focus is now on working closely with the NHS to ensure eligible patients can benefit from this first-in-class immunotherapy.'
The NHS in England will provide the treatment within three months of Nice publishing its final guidance.
Professor Meghana Pandit, co-medical director at NHS England, welcomed the announcement.
She said: 'This innovative treatment, which will soon be rolled out on the NHS, enables patients to build up tolerance to birch tree pollen within their immune system, rather than just treating the symptoms – and we hope this will give many a new lease of life, allowing people to spend time enjoying being outside, without the discomfort allergies can bring.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Family of Graham Thorpe want to ‘reduce stigma' of mental health after ex-cricketer's death
The family of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe want to 'reduce the stigma' felt by people who suffer from bad mental health. Speaking outside Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking after the inquest into Mr Thorpe's death, his widow Amanda said the family would be working together with mental health charity Mind to "reduce the stigma by sufferers, especially middle-aged men". Mr Thorpe died on the morning of August 4, 2024 after being struck by a train at a railway station in Surrey. Coroner Jonathan Stevens recorded a conclusion of suicide at the inquest. Mrs Thorpe said: 'We will never get over the tragic loss of Graham, and we miss him every day. She added: 'He was my best friend, my soulmate, and he was just a joy. 'And he loved life – but he got very ill.' Coroner Stevens said there were 'failings' into Mr Thorpe's care provision before he died. Mr Stevens said: "In my judgment there were shortcomings in the care that should have been provided to Graham in the last four months or so of his life." He added, "there were failings in the provision of his care" but said he cannot on the evidence conclude the failures were gross, and therefore could not conclude that if it were not for the failures, Mr Thorpe would not have died. The coroner said there was no evidence upon which he could make a finding of neglect in the case. Mr Stevens added: "It's clear there were shortcomings in his care. If he had been seen in those last four months, particularly after that incident on June 28, I cannot say whether it would or would not have made any difference." Mr Thorpe's cause of death was recorded by a pathologist as multiple injuries, the coroner said. Mr Thorpe was a mainstay in the England set-up for many years, first as a batter between 1993 and 2005 before spending 12 years in coaching roles. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to to find a helpline near you.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mom of Teen Blames Forgetfulness on Menopause. Then She Saw the Scans: 'All I Could Think About Was Not Being There for Her'
April Tate's tumor was deep inside her brain, and growing slowly A single mom is living with a shocking diagnosis. April Tate was working in childcare in Fife, a coastal community in Scotland, in 2018 when she forgot the name of one of the children in her care. April, who was 52 at the time, chalked the lapse up to hormones; as Harvard Health explains, forgetfulness and brain fog are commonly reported symptoms of menopause. But when she mentioned the memory lapse to her doctor, he asked her to come in for an evaluation immediately, according to Daily Mail. That's when doctors scanned her brain — and April was given the devastating news: She had a brain tumor. And while it wasn't cancerous, it was so deep in her brain that it couldn't be removed. As Mount Sinai explains, the type of tumor April has, a posterior falcine meningioma, is slow-growing, but in the part of the brain that focuses on movement, coordination, and "vital body functions such as breathing.' 'When they said I had a brain tumor, my first thought was that I was going to die. It was a numbing moment. I was a single mom, and my daughter Abby was still a teenager. All I could think about was not being there for her,' she told the outlet. 'When the surgeon explained the tumor was located in a really difficult part of my brain and he'd only attempted surgery in that area once before, it was hard to accept.' April was self-employed, which 'brought financial pressure,' as she had to take time off work for treatment, losing income. It 'just added to the stress.' She was told to 'watch and wait,' she says, with regular scans monitoring the tumor's growth. 'For a while, it didn't change much,' she explains. Still, 'it was terrifying to live with the unknown of whether it would grow or not. Over time, I began to adjust.' In late 2022, April was given the bleak news that the tumor had begun to grow, qualifying her for daily radiation. While she says the treatment itself 'was fairly quick each day … it was exhausting.' She had to wear a custom mask to keep her head completely still, a process that she said felt 'claustrophobic and intense … I just closed my eyes, listened to music and tried to stay calm. The hardest part came afterwards, with having to wait to find out if it had worked.' It did, she shared — and while she still has to undergo scans, she's been able to go back to work and increase her physical activity. She ran a 5K this year, and she's taking part in a fundraising challenge via JustGiving to pay for a single day of research at a Scottish brain tumor center. As she explained, 'What shocks me most is how little funding goes into researching brain tumors. That has to change.' And while she is grateful her tumor isn't cancerous, April explains, 'There's something in my brain that shouldn't be there, and it could change at any time. I even worried about how it might affect new relationships and not wanting to burden someone else with what I was going through. But we still deserve to live fully, and to love and be loved.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
'No one wants to be on strike but what I do want is to not be paid less than doctors were in 2008'
Outside Manchester Royal Infirmary a few dozen doctors in orange baseball caps and tabards are waving placards as passing drivers beep their horns in support. 'Overworked, underpaid, undervalued,' reads one hand-drawn sign. 'Pay restoration for doctors,' demand several others A five-day walkout by resident doctors in England got under way today, with members of the British Medical Association manning picket lines across the country. The BMA has argued that real-terms pay has fallen by around 20% since 2008, and is pushing for full 'pay restoration'. READ MORE: LIVE M6 and M56 traffic updates as crashes cause severe delays on both motorways as holiday getaway begins READ MORE: Family of teenager killed in alleged e-bike crash murder call for 'peace' as they issue tribute The union took out national newspaper adverts on Friday, saying it wanted to 'make clear that while a newly qualified doctor's assistant is taking home over £24 per hour, a newly qualified doctor with years of medical school experience is on just £18.62 per hour'. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here Ross Nieuwoudt, co-chair of the BMA resident doctors committee, was among those manning the MRI picket line today. The 29-year-old, who has been a resident doctor for going on five years, said: "Morale among doctors is mixed. If we didn't have hope that there could be change, we wouldn't be here on strike at all, we would be voting with our feet and leaving the country. "The truth is many doctors are leaving. 7,000 to 9,000 applied to leave the country last year - many have left and the majority of those don't return. Unless something is done about pay and conditions, that is going to continue happening. "There has been a huge amount of support coming by, people coming by to say they support us, reports of patients coming out of hospital to picket lines today to show support. I think support is there but I also fully sympathise with the patients that are worried or concerned or don't support. "No one wants to be on strike - I don't want to - but what I do want is to feel valued and respected and not paid less than doctors were in 2008. All we need is for [Health and Social Care Secretary] Wes Streeting to come to us with a credible offer and a credible next step to restore our pay. Then it can stop right now - that's all we're asking for." Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Mr Streeting said: "This government is doing all it can over this strike period to minimise patient harm and disruption. Working with NHS leaders, we've put in measures to keep as much urgent and planned care available and safe as we possibly can. "The truth is that patients and NHS staff did not need to be in this position today. Despite a 28.9% pay rise for their members over the last three years, and constructive talks on range of measures to improve the working lives of resident doctors, the BMA leadership chose to walk away from talks and lay the damage at the NHS's door. "There is no getting around the fact that these strikes will hit the progress we are making in turning the NHS around. But I am determined to keep disruption to patients at a minimum and continue with the recovery we have begun delivering in the last 12 months after a decade and a half of neglect. We will not be knocked off course."
