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| |  Olopatadine Effective Against Indoor and Outdoor Ocular Allergies: Presented at ACAAI By Carole Bullock DALLAS, TX -- November 13, 2007 -- Olopatadine 0.2% is equally effective in alleviating itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis following exposure to both outdoor and indoor allergens, according to research presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) 65th annual meeting. In a pooled analysis that included about 100 patients with confirmed allergies, researchers found that olopatadine 0.2% provided symptom relief from dander and dust mites, as well as ragweed and trees. William Storms, MD, Allergist, The Williams Storms Allergy Clinic, Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, reported the results in a poster presentation here on November 11. The results provide good news for the estimated 20% of the population who suffer seasonal and perennial ocular allergies, he said. To evaluate the efficacy of olopatadine 0.2%, three single-centre, prospective, randomised, double-masked, placebo-controlled, conjunctival allergen challenge (CAC) trials were pooled. The allergens used to elicit an allergic reaction were outdoor allergens, such as ragweed, grass, and trees, or indoor allergens, such as cat hair/dander and dust mites. All studies included a 16-hour duration of action challenge, during which ocular itching was evaluated. Changes in the olopatadine-treated eyes at 16 hours post-dosing were compared with subjects challenged with outdoor allergens and those challenged with indoor allergens, and itching scores (0 to 4 scale) were obtained at 3-, 10-, and 20-minute time points. Within 16 hours of dosing with one drop of olopatadine 0.2%, the mean change from baseline in ocular itching after patients were challenged with an outdoor allergen were 2.12, -2.10; 2.22 after 3, 10; and 20 minutes, respectively. The respective outdoor allergen challenge decreases were 2.15; 1.77; and 1.76 (P >/= 0.7015 for pair wise comparisons). "The findings indicate that olopatadine may be effective in patients who have more than just seasonal allergies," Dr. Storms said. Funding for this study was provided by Alcon. The author is a consultant for Alcon.
[Presentation title: An Evaluation of Olopatadine 0.2% in the Treatment of Ocular Allergies Resulting From Outdoor and Indoor Allergens: A Pooled Analysis. Abstract 229]
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