Medical News Today reports that prescription antihistamine Astelin (azelastine HCl) relieved the major symptoms of pollen allergy, including sneezing, runny nose and congestion, within 15 minutes of application compared to placebo and maintained efficacy at all time points for 8 hours in a randomized, single dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

MedPointe Pharmaceuticals announced the results of the 450-patient study at the 2007 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Conference in San Diego.

In addition, a group of patients treated with intranasal Nasonex (mometasone furoate monohydrate) did not show symptom improvement compared to placebo during the eight hour study period.

‘Patients suffering from seasonal allergies want rapid relief from their symptoms. These new data confirm that the second-generation antihistamine nasal spray Astelin is fast-acting and maintains significant control of moderate to severe allergy symptoms,’ said William E. Berger, MD. ‘Because Astelin rapidly relieves the full range of rhinitis symptoms, including congestion, caused by both seasonal allergens and environmental irritants, and is well-tolerated, it is a particularly effective first-line therapy for most patients.’

‘This study contributes to the robust body of data we've been assembling on the broad utility of Astelin in the treatment of seasonal allergies and nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis,’ said Paul R. Edick, President and CEO of MedPointe Pharmaceuticals. ‘This single-dose study demonstrated that Astelin provided significant, rapid relief of nasal symptoms as early as 15 minutes and maintained efficacy over the entire 8 hour study period, while Nasonex did not separate from placebo at any time point in the study. Because Astelin is a product in a highly competitive therapeutic category where fast relief is important, an established rapid onset of action gives Astelin the hallmark of a potential market leader.’

Astelin (azelastine HCl) Nasal Spray is a steroid-free prescription antihistamine nasal spray that provides rapid relief from symptoms, including congestion, runny nose, postnasal drip, itchy eyes/nose, and sneezing, associated with seasonal allergies or environmental irritants. Astelin is the only prescription antihistamine nasal spray approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat symptoms of both seasonal allergic rhinitis and nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis.