five-grass-pollen extract

Grass pollen allergen immunotherapy, specifically the five-grass pollen sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet known as Oralair, is a biologic treatment designed to induce immunological tolerance in patients with grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis. Developed by Stallergenes Greer, the formulation contains a standardized extract of five major grass species: Orchard (Dactylis glomerata), Sweet Vernal (Anthoxanthum odoratum), Perennial Rye (Lolium perenne), Kentucky Blue (Poa pratensis), and Timothy (Phleum pratense). The mechanism of action involves modulating the immune system's response to allergens by shifting the T-cell balance from a pro-allergic Th2 response toward a Th1 and regulatory T-cell (Treg) mediated response, while also influencing Th17 pathways. This modulation reduces IgE-mediated allergic inflammation and induces long-term tolerance. Beyond its standard use, it has been evaluated in a randomized controlled phase 3 pilot study for safety and efficacy in HIV-positive adults receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) who suffer from moderate-to-severe persistent allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, with assessments showing no adverse impact on HIV viral load or CD4 counts.

Brand names

Oralair

Other names

5-grass pollen SLITgrass pollen extractgrass pollen allergen immunotherapy