Pharmaceutical Business review

GSK hay fever drug relieves symptoms

In two separate phase III studies, fluticasone furoate nasal spray (FFNS) was more effective than placebo in relieving both the nasal and eye symptoms of patients 12 years and older with seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever.

One additional phase III study among individuals with perennial allergic rhinitis (year-round nasal allergies) found FFNS to be more effective than placebo in relieving nasal symptoms. Moreover, the symptom-relief lasted 24 hours in all three studies.

“These are the first two prospectively-designed phase III studies to demonstrate consistent and significant improvement in eye-related allergy symptoms with an intranasal steroid,” commented lead investigator William Lumry, Asthma & Allergy Specialists, Dallas.