bitop, a biotech company specialising in the development of Ectoin-containing medical devices, has reported that Ectoin allergy nasal spray has reduced symptoms of acute allergic rhinitis in a two-week observational, randomised, comparative crossover study with 50 patients suffering from acute allergic rhinitis.
The extremolyte Ectoin (1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid) is a cyclic amino acid that is produced mainly by halophilic bacteria to protect the cells from the extreme osmotic stress associated with saline conditions.
bitop performed a clinical trial on eyes drops and nasal spray in humans using an environmental exposure chamber (EEC) model. The preliminary outcomes suggest an improvement of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
Patients used either Ectoin allergy nasal spray or cromoglycinate nasal spray. After one week of treatment, a crossover between the groups was performed with a subsequent one-week treatment. Levels of allergic symptoms were monitored both by physicians and patients using a combined nasal and non-nasal symptom score. The nasal symptom score included congestion, rhinorrhea and errhine.
Both nasal sprays produced improvement of all nasal symptoms during the first week of treatment. During the second week, after the groups changed medication, further improvement was observed with both sprays.
However, for both products, reduction of the symptoms was not as pronounced as in the first week. The study results indicate that the Ectoin-containing nasal spray is effective in alleviating symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
Dirk Probst CEO of bitop, said: “Ectoin allergy nasal spray has a significant effect in patients with allergic rhinitis. Since this effect was comparable to established medicines, we suggest that Ectoin- containing medical devices are a new option for the treatment of allergic symptoms. Preliminary results of the EEC study support this notion.”