MONDAY, Nov. 7, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Immune-based therapies delivered via mouth have still not proven as effective as standard allergy shots, U.S. experts say, despite the fact that oral methods are already in wide use elsewhere in the world.
Orally delivered immune therapy for allergies has gained wide acceptance in Europe and South America, but these products have not yet been approved for use in the United States. Phase I clinical trials in this country are underway on the oral administration of dust mite allergenic extracts, however.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Anaheim, Calif. this weekend, researchers presented preliminary findings from a joint task force of the ACAAI and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) focused on orally delivered immunotherapies.
"After reviewing 100 published papers in English, French and German, in the areas of dosing, efficacy, immunologic response and safety, the task force concluded there is not enough evidence to determine minimum and maximum doses for sublingual [under the tongue] immunotherapy at this time," task force co-chairwoman Dr. Linda Cox of Nova University Osteopathic School of Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said in a prepared statement.
"Non-injection routes for immunotherapy date back to the early 1900s," Cox said, and have been used in Europe for the past 20 years. She said the main advantages for orally delivered immunotherapy "are patient convenience, since it can be administered at home, and it appears to be safer than conventional immunotherapy."
But the researchers also presented data casting doubt on the ability of oral methods to fight allergy symptoms with the same strength of the traditional allergy shot.
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about allergy shots.
