TOPLINE:

In patients with cat-induced allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis, immunotherapy with a depigmented polymerized cat allergoid is generally safe and well tolerated, researchers reported. More than half of patients experienced adverse events, primarily delayed local reactions, and none required adrenaline or emergency interventions.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a post-authorization safety study to examine adverse events in 91 patients in Germany (mean age, 34 years; 64.8% female) who received the treatment as part of routine practice between May 2022 and April 2024.
• The treatment uses cat allergen extract that has been chemically modified to reduce its allergenicity while still maintaining immunogenic effects.
• Patients received the cat allergoid by subcutaneous injection followed by conventional up-dosing (n = 56) or a quick up-dosing regimen (n = 35).

TAKEAWAY:

• Overall, 54% of patients reported adverse events.
• A total of 41 systemic reactions were reported in 25 patients, with most classified as grade 2 and none as grade 3 or 4.
• Local reactions included 21 immediate reactions and 40 delayed reactions.
• Of the delayed reactions, 75% were classified as mild, 18% as moderate, and 8% as severe.

IN PRACTICE:

“SCIT [subcutaneous immunotherapy] with a depigmented polymerized cat allergoid containing a chemically modified allergen extract provides a well-tolerated and safe therapeutic option for patients with cat allergies,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

Ralph Mösges, MD, PhD, with the contract research organization ClinCompetence Cologne GmbH, Cologne, Germany, was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on November 28 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

LIMITATIONS:

Further research is needed to evaluate long-term efficacy and safety. The study had a relatively small sample size and an open-label design.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was funded by LETI Pharma, which developed the cat allergoid, and several authors are employees of the company. Mösges reported receiving grants and personal fees from LETI Pharma and other pharmaceutical companies.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.