Safety of ToleroMune House Dust Mite (HDM) to Treat House Dust Mite Allergy in HDM Allergic Subjects With Rhinoconjunctivitis

The prevalence of allergic sensitisation to House Dust Mite (HDM) varies from region to region and depends on the regional prevalence of HDM. In the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 54.3% of the US population had positive test responses to one or more allergens, with the prevalence for HDM being 27.5%. Like many other allergens, exposure to HDMA in sensitised patients is associated with poorer lung function, greater medication requirements and more asthma symptoms as well as chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms.

ToleroMune HDM is a novel, synthetic, allergen-derived peptide desensitising vaccine, currently being developed for the treatment of Houst Dust Mite allergy.

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of multiple ascending doses of ToleroMune HDM in subjects in subjects with a documented history of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis on exposure to house dust mite. The efficacy of ToleroMune HDM will also be explored in these subjects using the Late Phase Skin Response, Early Phase Skin Response and Conjunctival Provocation Test.

This study is designed as a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of escalating multiple doses of ToleroMune HDM in subjects with a documented history of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis on exposure to house dust mite. The efficacy of ToleroMune HDM will also be explored in these subjects using the LPSR, EPSR, CPT and levels of HDM specific IgE. A single centre will be initiated first, with a second centre included as a backup, if needed, to enable recruitment numbers to be met.

The study will consist of 3 study periods. In Period 1, Screening will be performed up to a maximum of 8 weeks before randomisation and may consist of one or two visits to the clinic, at the Investigator's discretion. Baseline Challenge will consist of a single visit 1 to 4 weeks before randomisation.

Period 2 (Treatment Period) will consist of 4 visits (Visits 3A-3D) four weeks apart (28±2 days). Subjects who comply with the inclusion/exclusion criteria will be assigned to one of 5 dose groups. The first dose group will receive 4 administrations of ToleroMune HDM. Successive dose groups will increasing doses given as 4 administrations of ToleroMune HDM, provided the first administration of the previous dose was safe and well tolerated.

In Period 3, Post-treatment Challenge will take place 18-22 weeks after the first administration in the Treatment Period. Assessments performed will be identical to those at the Baseline Challenge. Follow-up will be conducted 3-10 days after PTC.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female, aged 18-65 years
* Miniumum 1 year history of rhinoconjunctivitis on exposure to HDM
* Positive skin prick test to whole Der p allergen
* LPSR to whole Der p allergen 8-10 hours after intradermal injection of greater than 35mm diameter response
* Positive CPT to whole Der p allergen with a score ≥4

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects with a history of asthma
* Subjects with an FEV1 \<80% of predicted
* Subjects with a Der f or Der p specific IgE \>100 kU/L
* Subjects with an acute phase skin response to whole Der p or whole Der f allergen with a mean wheal diameter \> 50 mm
* Subjects who score \>1 for redness of conjunctiva or who have any watering or itchiness in the eye before administration of the CPT
* Treatment with beta-blockers, alpha-adrenoreceptor blockers, tranquillizers or psychoactive drugs
* History of any significant disease or disorder (e.g. cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, liver, renal, neurological, musculoskeletal, endocrine, metabolic, malignant, psychiatric, major physical impairment)