House dust mite immunotherapy treatment made available via NHS Scotland

An immunotherapy treatment for House Dust Mite allergy has been announced for Scotland.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Acarizax (12 SQ-HDM SLIT) for the treatment of adult patients aged18 – 65 diagnosed by clinical history and a positive test of house dust mite sensitisation who have moderate to severe house dust mite allergic rhinitis which is persistent despite the use of symptom-relieving medication.

Anne Biggs, Deputy Head of Clinical Services, Allergy UK, “Uncontrolled house dust mite allergy severely impacts daily life, sleep and overall wellbeing. We welcome this decision, which offers a potential long-term solution and renewed hope for patients in Scotland who have found little relief through existing medications.”

SQ-HDM SLIT is the first allergen immunotherapy licensed for house dust mite associated allergic rhinitis In Scotland. It’s a sublingual immunotherapy tablet taken as daily under the tongue. It targets the cause of allergy, rather than treating the symptoms. Patients can gradually build tolerance in their immune system to the allergy trigger, reducing symptoms and offering a potential long-term solution for those struggling with allergy to house dust mite.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis can include runny/blocked nose, sneezing, wheezing and breathlessness and can take a toll on someone’s physical health and mental health.

Managing allergic rhinitis disease often requires lifestyle adjustments and financial investments, such as frequent deep-cleaning and purchasing specialised products like hypoallergenic bedding.

House dust mite allergy is also a significant strain on the NHS, due to frequent doctor visits, medication costs, and even hospital admissions. An estimated 1,960 Scots per year are expected to benefit from the new treatment.

Find out more about living with a house dust mite allergy.