Safety and Efficacy of Ectoin Allergy Nasal Spray and Ectoin Allergy Eye Drops in the Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR) in Children and Adolescents

Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Ectoin Allergy Nasal Spray and Ectoin Allergy Eye Drops in the Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR) in Children and Adolescents: a Multicenter, Double-blind, Randomised, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Group Clinical Investigation

Ectoin acts on membranes by forming an Ectoin-Hydro-Complex therewith providing a protection against external agents like aeroallergens. The effects of Ectoin containing nasal spray and eye drops have already been demonstrated in several studies with adult Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR) patients and it was shown that they can effectively reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis without resulting in any significant adverse events.

The aim of this clinical investigation is to demonstrate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Ectoin Nasal Spray and Ectoin Eye Drops in pediatric and adolescent SAR patients. It is assumed that Ectoin containing products show an excellent safety profile and very good tolerability together with a potent efficacy in the treatment of SAR.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 5-17 years
• diagnosed seasonal allergic rhinitis
• general good health condition other than SAR, and free of any concomitant conditions or treatment that could interfere with clinical investigation conduct, influence the interpretation of clinical investigation observations/results, or put the patient at increased risk during the clinical investigation
• Sum of Total Nasal Score (TNSS) ≥ 6
• Sum of Total Ocular Score (TOSS) ≥ 4

Exclusion Criteria:

• - Confirmed diagnosis of acute or chronic rhinosinusitis, as determined by the investigator
• History of physical findings of nasal pathology, including nasal polyps or other clinically significant respiratory tract malformations, recent nasal biopsy, nasal trauma or surgery, atrophic rhinitis, or rhinitis medicamentosa (all within the last 60 days prior to the screening visit)
• Chronic or intermittent use of intranasal, oral, intramuscular, intravenous or ophthalmic corticosteroids
• Ocular disorder other than allergic conjunctivitis, except hyperopia and myopia and strabismus
• Upper and lower airway respiratory infection or disorder [including, but not limited to bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic sinusitis, influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)] within 4 weeks prior to clinical investigation start or development of a respiratory infection during the run-in period
• Start of specific immunotherapy within 1 month preceding enrolment in the clinical investigation or change in dose of immunotherapy throughout the trial
• Chronic moderate to severe asthma according to GINA criteria which is treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and additional anti-asthmatic treatment. Patients with mild co-seasonal asthma must not change their dose regimen of ICS within 4 weeks prior to the enrolment into the clinical investigation nor during the clinical investigation
• Other respiratory diseases (e.g. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, alpha-1-Antitrypsin deficiency, sarcoidosis, bronchiectasis, allergic alveolitis, tuberculosis, emphysema, etc.)
• on investigators discretion