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For their study, Slavin and his colleagues will
examine the effect of an oral medication on people who are allergic to grass
pollen – one of the most common outdoor allergens and one that typically causes
often-severe hay fever symptoms in people sensitive to it. In the
St. Louis area, grass pollen season
generally stretches from May through mid-July.
“If our study finds that this tablet is effective as an alternative to shots,
there’s no reason to believe that oral medications couldn’t be developed for a
whole range of other allergens,” Slavin said. “This could be quite promising.”
The study, which is being conducted at multiple sites around the country, will
last about 19 months.
During the first year, patients enrolled in the study will be observed
periodically to determine the severity of their allergy to grass pollen. The
oral medication being studied will not be administered during this phase, though
patients will provided medications to help relieve and control allergy symptoms.
Those whose grass pollen allergy is deemed significant enough will move onto the
study’s treatment phase next year. Patients will be randomly designated to
receive either the study medication or a placebo, which they’ll take daily for
12 to 16 weeks before and during grass pollen season.
Patients will be observed periodically throughout the treatment phase to see how
they’re responding to the medication (or placebo). The medical professionals
assessing the response will not know which treatment – the medication or placebo
– the patient received.
For the study, SLU researchers hope to enroll up to 20 volunteers who are 18 to
50 years old and of either gender and any race. They must have been previously
diagnosed with significant allergies by a physician and, last year, received
treatment during grass pollen season. Among other criteria, they may not have
received regular medication for allergens other than grass pollen.
Volunteers will be given all study-related medication and medical care at no
cost, and they will be reimbursed for time and travel.
People wanting more information or to find out whether they’re eligible to
participate in the study should call
314-977-4440, or
866-977-4440.
Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the
distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the
Mississippi River. The school educates
physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides
health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school
seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, liver disease,
heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and infectious disease.
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