A new treatment for severe dust mite allergy has been recommended by NICE, for patients whose symptoms have not been helped by other drugs.

It is thought around 13,000 people could benefit from the therapy which exposes users to house dust mite allergen to reduce their sensitivity.

NICE said Acarizax (also known as 12 SQ-HDM SLIT) was recommended for persistent moderate to severe allergic rhinitis in patients aged 12 to 65 years.

But the committee did not recommend the therapy for asthma caused by house dust mite allergy as the evidence suggested it would not be cost effective in this group.

The three-year treatment – taken as a dissolvable tablet under the tongue – should be initiated in secondary care because patients need an allergy test to confirm their diagnosis.

But GPs would be able to continue with repeat prescribing after this point the committee noted.

The decision was based on clinical trials that showed the treatment was particularly beneficial in for those whose symptoms cannot be managed by standard treatments, such as steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines.

But NICE did note that the results on which they were basing the decision were uncertain because the trials did not reflect NHS clinical practice. This uncertainty was greater for asthma, the committee said.

If patients had both allergic rhinitis and asthma caused by house dust mite allergy they would be able to access the treatment, which has a list price of £80 a month, the recommendations added.

Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis include sneezing, an itchy nose, a runny or blocked nose and itchy, red and watery eyes.

In the most severe cases the condition can be debilitating and cause facial swelling, fatigue and affect people’s sleep – including impacting sleep, mental health and daily activities.

Avoiding house dust mites is almost impossible, and patients and their families have a high burden of trying to eliminate house dust mites by cleaning, the committee noted.

Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: ‘For people with house dust mite allergic rhinitis that is not controlled by standard treatments, this new cost-effective drug will have a significant positive impact on their quality of life.

‘This is a chronic, debilitating condition which can prevent people for going to their workplace or school.

‘This medicine has been found to improve symptoms, helping people to live their lives and has potential to be truly life changing.’

Dr Helen Evans-Howells, a patient expert and a GP, said: ‘As someone with lived experience of allergies I am pleased that NICE has recommended 12 SQ-HDM SLIT.

‘This drug could be life-changing for those affected by severe symptoms which include significant fatigue, congestion, and facial swelling.

‘The evidence clearly shows it offers an effective solution for those who have struggled with standard treatments.

Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said many patients endured years of misery.

‘With this treatment there is now hope for people who fit the criteria to be able to access this through the NHS.

‘Although initial access to a specialist allergy service will mainly be required to commence treatment, importantly it can be continued as a home treatment, without the need for frequent hospital visits which incur travel and time costs. The patient benefit will be far reaching, and we welcome this decision.’

A version of this article was first published by our sister title Pulse