Stallergenes Greer announced the initiation of a Phase III clinical study (YOBI, YOung patients and BIrch allergy) to confirm the safety and efficacy of Staloral® Birch in children and adolescents with birch pollen-induced allergic rhino-conjunctivitis with or without asthma. The randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled Phase III study will involve approximately 80 sites in 12 European countries. Allergic rhino-conjunctivitis is a worldwide disease and a global health burden affecting more than 500 million people, who are at higher risk of developing rhinitis exacerbation and asthma than the general population1.Birch is among the strongest allergy-producing trees in northern Europe.

The allergic potential of other trees belonging to the birch homologous group, such as alder and hazel, is also increasing steadily. In children and adolescents, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis can lead to sleep problems, fatigue, missed school days and can complicate outdoor activities3. Individuals sensitised at a young age are also more at risk of developing asthma.

The younger the children are, the higher their risk of developing asthma, which highlights the relevance of early causal treatment in paediatric patients to slow the worsening of allergy symptoms4. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is currently the only available therapeutic treatment that has the potential to uniquely alter the natural course of the disease5. In its liquid form, sublingual AIT can provide a needle-free and flexible treatment for children and adolescents.