Preference for Immunotherapy with Tablets by People with Allergic Rhinitis

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects many individuals, with conventional therapies sometimes insufficient.
• Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) offers treatment options including tablets, injections, and drops.
• Sublingual immunotherapy as tablets (SLIT-tablets) use is less common in the US compared to subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate US patient preferences for SLIT-tablets versus SCIT (monthly or weekly administration).
• To understand patient perspectives on treatment attributes like administration, safety, and cost.

Main Methods:

• A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted with adults and caregivers of children with moderate-to-severe AR.
• The DCE included 16 choice sets evaluating administration mode/frequency, systemic reaction risk, and co-payment.
• Participants had not previously received or were not currently undergoing AIT.

Main Results:

• A significant preference for SLIT-tablets over both weekly and monthly SCIT was observed among adults and caregivers.
• Both groups favored treatments with a lower risk of anaphylactic shock.
• Caregiver risk aversion increased with younger child age; preference for SLIT-tablets was consistent across allergic profiles.

Conclusions:

• SLIT-tablets represent a preferred administration route for allergy immunotherapy among US patients with AR.
• Patient preference is influenced by administration convenience and safety profile, particularly reduced risk of severe reactions.