ALK Abello to commence new phase III Mitizax study

ALK Abello has announced that it will be conducting an additional phase III study of its new allergy therapy Mitizax in Europe.

The company is initiating the new trial, called Merit, in order to broaden the therapeutic use of the drug, a tablet-based therapy for use against house dust mite-induced hay fever and asthma.

Its latest trial will assess the potential of the product against dust mite-associated allergic rhinitis compared to placebo among 900 patients in 12 European nations, with completion expected in 2013.

This means that the company is now conducting two parallel phase III trials of Mitizax in Europe, as well as a phase I Japanese study that has also been initiated this week.

Henrik Jacobi, executive vice-president of research and development at ALK, said: "The accelerated development is expected to significantly increase the value of Mitizax to patients, society and ALK."

This comes after the company announced the launch of its Jext adrenaline auto-injector for allergy treatment in Europe earlier this month.