Current status of sublingual immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis in Japan

Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) and house dust mite (HDM) are two major allergens that cause allergic rhinitis (AR) in Japan and the prevalence of AR is increasing. Pharmacothearpy is a commonly used treatment, but the level of patient satisfaction is very low. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only therapeutic modality that provides not only symptom relief but also quality of life improvement that leads to a high rate of satisfaction. In particular, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a safe and effective treatment for AR. Here we introduce a large-scale double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of SLIT in Japanese patients using JCP droplets or HDM tablets conducted in Japan. The immediate future of SLIT in Japan is also discussed.