United Kingdom-based Allergy Therapeutics has completed recruitment of patients in the PQ Birch phase III clinical trial, it was reported yesterday.

The PQBirch301 study is a pivotal Phase III study aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of the company's ultra-short course, convenient for patients, aluminium free PQ Birch subcutaneous immunotherapy to address the cause of symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis due to birch pollen. It has randomised more than 560 patients from 59 centres in four European countries, Germany, Austria, Poland and Sweden.

The primary efficacy data will be evaluated during the birch pollen season of 2018 and the results of the trial are likely to be revealed during the second half of 2018.

PQ Birch is one of a number of ultra-short course, subcutaneous immunotherapy products in clinical development for various allergies, and these form a key component of the Group's three-pillar growth strategy.