Boston, MA 04/24/2014 (wallstreetpr) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)’s Ragwitek to treat allergy in adult patients. The medicine is a new approach to treating patients suffering allergic rhinitis caused due to ragweed pollen allergies. The product will be available by April end across pharmacies in the U.S.
During the treatment, the tablet will be placed under the tongue. Considering the positive skin test, the drug got the approval to use can use in patients aged 18 to 65 years having allergic rhinitis patients with or without conjunctivitis.
Ragweed pollen allergies
The disease is seasonal in nature usually happen between August to November in the U.S. Regional variations is there across the country, however, ragweed season remains peak during mid-September. Ragweed season further intensify the symptoms in allergic rhinitis patients that include sneezing, running nose, nose blockage and watery eyes.
Treatment market
As per the estimates, about 4.5 million adults are under diagnosis with allergic rhinitis induced by short ragweed pollen. There is no cure for allergy that can only be managed through prevention and treatment. Allergen immunotherapy is the only measure to provide long term prevention for patients with allergic rhinitis symptoms.
According to Piper Jaffery Investment Research estimate, allergy immunotherapy market for the U.S. was ~$2.2 billion in 2009 and believes that the market will grow at CAGR of 10% to reach $5.7 billion by 2019. So, the opportunities are high for companies that provide medicines including different route of administration.
Merck’s respiratory portfolio
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) has a solid range of medications to treat respiratory diseases, including allergic rhinitis and asthma in children, as well as adults. Ragwitek becomes the second sublingual tablet in its respiratory segment that use primarily as immunotherapy. So, Ragwitek approval by the FDA will further enhance its presence in immunotherapy especially for the prevention of ragweed pollen allergies.
