A Study of Tolerability and Safety of a New Cumulative Dose of Grass MATA MPL

There is increasing evidence that the effectiveness of allergy immunotherapy to control symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis is related to the cumulative dose of allergen or allergoid administered during a single regimen of subcutaneous (SC) injections or of sublingual administration. Previously, high cumulative doses of the Grass MATA MPL 10200 and 18200 SU (Standardized Units) were compared with the marketed dose of 5100 SU and were found to have acceptable tolerability and safety. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tolerability and safety of an even higher cumulative dose regimen of 35600 SU. of Grass MATA MPL compared with placebo in patients with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR) due to grass pollen, to enable selection of the best dose to take forward for further development.

This will be a placebo-controlled study, using a 1:1 randomization and parallel-group, single-blind design, in patients with seasonal allergic rhino-conjunctivitis to grass pollen conducted at multiple centres in the US. The study will be conducted outside the grass pollen season and is comprised of 3 periods.

* Period 1: Screening
* Period 2: Randomization and treatment
* Period 3: Post-treatment safety follow-up

Period 1 consists of the screening visit (Visit 1) at which patient eligibility will be assessed. Blood samples will be taken for clinical safety laboratory assessments and for baseline transcriptomics analysis. Eligible patients will proceed to Period 2 for enrolment into study.

Period 2 starts with the randomization visit (Visit 2: 3-33 days after Visit 1), at which eligible patients will be randomly allocated to the Grass MATA MPL 35600 SU or placebo treatment groups and receive the first of 6 weekly injections of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). Injections 2 to 6 will be administered at Visits 3 to 7. After each injection, patients will be kept under observation at the site for at least 30 minutes by personnel qualified to observe for and manage local and systemic adverse events. This period may be extended by the investigator according to his/her judgment. The observation will be followed up by a telephone call approximately 24 hours after the time of injection. In the event of mild or moderate systemic adverse events judged by the investigator to be well-tolerated by the patient and to show good recovery, the patient may continue treatment as scheduled.

Period 3 (Visit 8 - End of Study) will occur 6-8 days after Visit 7 to review any AEs and to perform end-of-treatment assessments, which will include blood draws for safety laboratory tests and transcriptomics analysis.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have a positive skin prick test for grass pollen allergen.
* Positive skin prick test to positive histamine control
* Negative skin prick test to negative control
* Specific IgE for grass pollen as documented by ImmunoCAP test with class ≥ 2
* A history of moderate to severe symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis due to grass (Pooideae) pollen exposure that required repeated use of antihistamines, nasal steroids, and/or leukotriene modifiers for relief of symptoms during the last two consecutive seasons prior to the study
* Males or non-pregnant, non-lactating females who are not of child-bearing potential or using effective contraception
* Patients who are normally active and otherwise judged to be in good health
* For patients with a history of asthma, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≥ 80% of National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) predicted, with a FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio ≥ 70%.
* Able to observe the drug washout times listed in the Prohibited Medications Table below prior to screening
* Patients willing and able to attend required study visits and able to follow the protocol requirements.
* Patients willing and able to give written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Symptoms outside the grass pollen season due to a perennial and/or non-grass seasonal allergen, if the patient is unable to avoid the offending allergen.
* Immunological disorders or other diseases that in the opinion of the investigator may pose a safety risk.
* Presence of moderate to severe asthma, characterized by the current use of inhaled steroids at a daily dose above 400 micrograms of budesonide (or equivalent)
* Emergency room visit or admission for asthma in the 12 months prior to Visit 1 or history of a life-threatening asthma attack ever.
* Presence of non-atopic rhinitis and/or rhino-sinusitis (with or without polyps).
* Presence of any skin conditions (skin abnormalities, tattoos etc.) which might interfere with the interpretation of the SPT results.
* Current diagnosis of type I diabetes. Patients with type II diabetes will only be allowed to participate at the discretion of the investigator.
* Treatment with a preparation containing MPL (e.g. Cervarix) within 6 months prior to screening
* Moderate to severe upper or lower respiratory tract infections requiring medication within 14 days of or a diagnosis of sinusitis within 30 days of randomisation
* Clinical history of severe or life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to foods, insect venom, exercise, drugs or idiopathic anaphylaxis.
* Clinical history of allergy, hypersensitivity or intolerance to the excipients of the study medication.
* Tyrosine metabolism disorders, especially tyrosinemia and alkaptonuria.
* Unable to receive epinephrine therapy (i.e., use of epinephrine is contraindicated).
* Clinical history of immunodeficiency, including those who are on immunosuppressant therapy.
* Clinical history of recurrent idiopathic angioedema.
* Beta-blocker medication, including eye drops, for any indication.
* Treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or ACE inhibitors.
* Clinical history of drug or alcohol abuse which, in the investigator's opinion, could interfere with the patient's ability to participate in the study.
* Participation in a clinical research trial with any investigational medicinal product within 4 weeks of screening or concomitantly with this study.