Environmental exposure chambers in allergen immunotherapy trials: Current status and clinical validation needs

Method for a homogeneous distribution of pollens in an environmental exposure chamber

“…The variation was within what is generally accepted in other EEC studies . The spatial distribution of pollens varied by 9%, similar to what has previously been found . All of this made it possible to reproduce typical symptoms of seasonal AR out‐of‐season during the Danish winter.…”

“…A recent article called for more insight into correlations between controlled allergen challenges in EECs and natural exposures [20]. As can be seen in Fig.…”

Dose‐response relationship of a new Timothy grass pollen allergoid in comparison with a 6‐grass pollen allergoid

“…Symptoms elicited by AEC exposure outside the pollen season proved to correlate with symptoms caused by natural pollen exposure . This method allows better control of the allergen exposure, eliminates the interference in data interpretation due to rescue medications and reduces the requirements for a high number of subjects to be included in a study . The Fraunhofer AEC in Hannover is standardized and validated for exposure with grass pollen from D. glomerata to induce allergic symptoms in grass pollen‐allergic patients .…”

“…A recently published position paper of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) has aimed to harmonize current concepts in AECs and to project unmet needs of these models . In the context of controlled out‐of‐season allergen exposure in an AEC, the TNSS does not need to be combined with medication scores . Hence, in the present study, TNSS was chosen as a secondary endpoint.…”

Technical and clinical validation of an environmental exposure unit for ragweed

“…These issues have been addressed in EEUs currently in use with system controls. A number of EEUs have been validated for uniform allergen concentration and induction of AR signs and symptoms; drug efficacy has also been evaluated and verified in EEUs 17,21–24…”