Stallergenes Greer plc (the "Company") (Paris:STAGR), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in treatments for respiratory allergies, today announced that the manufacturing and distribution of ORALAIR®, ACTAIR® and ALYOSTAL® Venom1 is starting after a temporary suspension at its Stallergenes SAS plant in Antony, France.
As previously communicated, this temporary suspension was enacted following observations made by the French Health Authority (ANSM), regarding the implementation of a new IT system aimed at providing upgraded supply and delivery of Stallergenes Greer's products. The launch of this new IT system resulted in operational disruptions that have now been satisfactorily addressed.
"We are pleased with the resumption of ORALAIR®, ACTAIR® and ALYOSTAL® Venom production. These products will be available again to our patients as soon as possible and in a sequential manner," said Fereydoun Firouz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stallergenes Greer.
Stallergenes Greer continues to work with the ANSM to promptly resume distribution of its Named Patient Products (NPP), including STALORAL®, PHOSTAL®, and ALUSTAL®.
About ORALAIR®
ORALAIR® is a sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet with a mix of five grass allergen extracts (Sweet Vernal, Orchard, Perennial Rye, Timothy, and Kentucky Blue Grass Mixed Pollens Allergen Extract).
ORALAIR® is a treatment for grass pollen allergic rhinitis with or without conjunctivitis in adults, adolescents, and children (above the age of five except in the United States, where it is approved for use in persons 10 through 65 years of age) with clinically relevant symptoms, confirmed by a positive cutaneous test and/or a positive titre of the specific IgE to the grass pollen. ORALAIR® is not indicated for the immediate relief of allergy symptoms.
ORALAIR® was originally approved in Europe in 2008 and is currently authorized in 31 countries around the world, including most European countries, United States, Canada, Australia, and Russia for the treatment of grass pollen allergic rhinitis. In United States, ORALAIR® was launched in May 2014, making it the first allergy immunotherapy tablet to be registered and marketed in United States. Worldwide post-marketing experience with ORALAIR® includes more than 20 million doses given to more than 110,000 patients.
ORALAIR® has been approved based on results from an extensive clinical development program. ORALAIR® has been studied in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, in both Europe and the United States in over 2,500 adults and children.
Important Safety Information
WARNING: SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTIONS
ORALAIR® can cause life-threatening allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis and severe laryngopharyngeal edema. Do not administer ORALAIR to patients with severe, unstable or uncontrolled asthma. Observe patients in the office for at least 30 minutes following the initial dose. Prescribe auto-injectable epinephrine, instruct and train patients on its appropriate use, and instruct patients to seek immediate medical care upon its use. ORALAIR may not be suitable for patients with certain underlying medical conditions that may reduce their ability to survive a serious allergic reaction. ORALAIR may not be suitable for patients who may be unresponsive to epinephrine or inhaled bronchodilators, such as those taking beta-blockers.
ORALAIR® is contraindicated in patients with severe, unstable or uncontrolled asthma, patients with a history of any severe systemic allergic reaction or severe local reaction to sublingual allergen immunotherapy, or patients who are hypersensitive to any of the inactive ingredients.
ORALAIR® can cause systemic allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and severe local reactions, including laryngopharyngeal swelling, which may be life-threatening. Severe and serious allergic reactions may require treatment with epinephrine. Patients who have a systemic allergic reaction to ORALAIR® should stop taking the product. Eosinophilic esophagitis has been reported in association with sublingual tablet immunotherapy. Discontinue ORALAIR® in patients with persistent symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis, including dysphagia or chest pain. ORALAIR® treatment should be withheld if the patient is experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation. Re-evaluate patients who have recurrent asthma exacerbations and consider discontinuation of ORALAIR®. Concomitant dosing with other allergen immunotherapy may increase the likelihood of local or systemic adverse reactions to either subcutaneous or sublingual allergen immunotherapy.
The most common adverse events reported in ≥ 5% of patients were oral pruritus, throat irritation, ear pruritus, mouth edema, tongue pruritus, cough, and oropharyngeal pain. Patients who have escalating or persistent local reactions to ORALAIR® should be reevaluated and considered for discontinuation of ORALAIR®.