Pharmaceutical Companies Promote Earlier Treatment For Allergies
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
The allergy season does not officially start until March, however, several pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline have started PR campaigns advocating earlier preparation and treatment.One in five people in Japan suffers from allergies. Due to an exceptionally hot summer last year, pollen levels this year in some areas are estimated to be three times greater than average. In January, when early pollen emission began, GSK started distributing brochures on preliminary allergy treatment to medical facilities. GSK advocated that patients seek expert advice and take allergy prescription drugs earlier and take different doses according to symptom development, instead of waiting for the arrival of peak allergy season.Sinus infection drugs such as second generation antihistamine drugs have been central to early treatment. Kyowa Hakko Kogyo says that market share for the drugs have increased by 18 percent from 2000 to 2006. (Click here for more