Allergy

In the year leading up to the switch of Allegra, Sanofi generated $214.2 million in U.S. prescription sales of Allegra, largely due to the generic competition against its Allegra D formulation. Now Sanofi is looking to virtually match those annual sales figures within the much more profitable nonprescription venue with the company’s successful switch from prescription to OTC this spring. 


NEW YORK — A new study recently estimated that 5.9 million children in the United States suffer from a food allergy.

The study, published in the July issue of Pediatrics, also found that children with a tree nut or peanut allergy tend to have the most severe reactions, with nearly 39% of children ages 18 years and younger surveyed saying they had a severe or life-threatening allergy. Additionally, more than 30% of children surveyed said they suffered from multiple food allergies.

The study was funded by the Food Allergy Initiative.

MADISON, N.J. — A recent Quest Diagnostics "Health Trends Report" released Wednesday raised the possibility that men have a higher risk for allergies than women or that men, as a function of their gender, require different reporting standards when evaluated for allergies with increasingly used blood tests.

Prior research had suggested just the opposite — that women experienced allergies more frequently than men.

MADISON, N.J. — Ragweed and mold are driving increased allergies across America, Quest Diagnostics reported Monday.

In the study, sensitization rates to common ragweed and mold increased the most of the 11 common allergens evaluated over a four-year period. Sensitization to common ragweed grew 15% nationally, while mold grew 12%. By comparison, sensitization to the 11 allergens combined increased 5.8%.

The summer 2011 Allergy Relief Ingredient Guide breaks down the indication, active ingredients, purpose and dosage of such OTC allergy-symptom relievers as Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec, Benadryl, Hyland's, Ocean, Similasan, Visine A.C. and Zaditor.

Click here for the complete guide.

IRVINE, Calif. — Cobalis on Tuesday began airing 60-second television commercials in support of its PreHistin allergy defense formula across national cable and satellite networks as part of a planned $5 million spend, the company announced.

HORSHAM, Pa. — Patients with seasonal allergies are more likely to experience difficulty sleeping, according to results of a new survey conducted by Teva Respiratory.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Lysol, a Reckitt Benckiser brand, is looking to help allergy sufferers this spring.

The brand announced that it has tapped pediatrician and author Laura Jana, as well as Lysol microbiologist Joe Rubino, to help identify allergen triggers and ways to avoid them. The two star in Lysol's "Allergy-Proofing Your Home" video series, which can be viewed here.