Alcon, Inc. said US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Patanase (olopatadine hydrochloride) nasal spray for the relief of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in patients 12 years of age and older. Patanase nasal spray, an extension to Alcon's market-leading ocular allergy product line, will be available in May this year.

"We look forward to providing doctors the opportunity to prescribe Patanase to their patients who need and want a fast-acting nasal spray that quickly relieves symptoms," said Kevin Buehler, senior vice president, global markets and chief marketing officer Alcon. "We are excited to enter the nasal market and are confident that this new addition will continue to grow our topical allergy franchise."

FDA approval of Patanase nasal spray was based primarily on multiple clinical studies for the evaluation of safety, efficacy and onset of action. The studies were two-week, randomised, double-blind clinical trials in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients and were conducted to determine the ability of Patanase to relieve allergy symptoms based on total nasal symptom scores (TNSS, a composite of stuffy, runny, itchy nose and sneezing). The results of these clinical studies were that patients treated with Patanase, two sprays per nostril, twice daily, demonstrated significantly greater decreases in TNSS compared to the placebo nasal spray.

Additionally, onset of action was evaluated in three environmental exposure unit studies. In these studies, patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were exposed to high levels of pollen and then treated with either Patanase or placebo nasal spray, two sprays in each nostril, after which they self-reported their allergy symptoms hourly for the subsequent 12 hours. Patanase nasal spray was found to have an onset of action of 30 minutes and a 12 hour duration of affect after dosing, which was statistically significant compared to the placebo spray.

"For patients who suffer every allergy season with symptoms that make life in those months miserable, Patanase offers relief beginning in minutes in a convenient steroid-free nasal spray," said Eli Meltzer, M.D., Medical Group and Research Centre, A.P.C., San Diego, and lead investigator on one study submitted to the FDA. "The fact that it works quickly is important. Patients in our fast paced society want rapid improvement and relief from their nasal allergies."

Patanase nasal spray is indicated for patients 12 years of age and older for the relief of symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Nasal allergy symptoms are measured by the patient's Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) which is a combination of stuffy, runny, itchy nose and sneezing. Patanase is intended only for intranasal administration. The most common side effects experienced with the use of Patanase include: bitter taste, headache, epistaxis, pharyngolaryngeal pain, post-nasal drip, cough, and urinary tract infection.