ALK's dust mite medication approved for use by adolescents in Europe

ALK's house dust mite (HDM) sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet has been approved in 12 European countries, to include availability for adolescent patients.

ACARIZAX will be used for patients 12-17 suffering from HDM-induced allergic rhinitis, thanks to research and clinical trials from North America and Japan.

Though ACARIZAX has been approved for adult use since 2015, for the treatment of allergic asthma the approval for teenage use is a big step for the company and the medication. In February 2017, it became an effective option for allergy immunotherapy.

"For patients, it means there can now be an earlier intervention to treat a condition that has far-reaching consequences for teenagers whose sleep, education and social lives are blighted by house dust mite allergy," ALK Executive Vice President Henrik Jacobi said.

ACARIZAX is available to adolescents in Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Slovakia, France and Germany. It is also approved in 17 countries around the world, while nine countries are reviewing it.