According to experts, in 5 years, half of the world’s population will suffer from various allergy symptoms. The prevalence of the disease is increasing due to stress, environmental pollution and the growing number of medications that the population takes. Anastasia Erokhina, Director of the Over–the-Counter Medications and Dietary Supplements unit at EGIS company, spoke about the methods of fighting allergies currently used in Russia and the approaches that may appear in the future.
Anastasia, how prevalent is allergy in Russia and the world in general, and would you describe the ways used to manage it in our country as effective?
According to the Institute of Immunology, up to 30% of people in our country have allergies. And it’s not just about heredity. An increase of allergies is caused by environmental pollution, stress, and taking medications.
Sudden allergies become more frequent. For example, exotic foods that have recently appeared on our market may cause severe reactions in some people, including angioedema. Of course, moderate reactions occur more often than severe ones. I’m talking about the conditions similar to the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections: blocked nose, watery eyes, general malaise. However, unlike acute respiratory viral infections, chronic allergic conditions can persist for months. On average, this continues for 4-6 months. Most often, the allergy season starts in April and sometimes lasts until September.
Just think, people have to work and study, but they can’t sleep well and can’t concentrate during the day. This not only causes discomfort, but also impairs the quality of life. As to how well we are coping with allergies, I can say that, according to IQVIA, about 77 million packages of antihistamines are sold on the Russian market per year, and the turnover is 18 billion rubles. And the market continues to grow. It went up 12% last year, and this year we already see 7% growth. The numbers speak for themselves: allergies are a problem that affects almost every family.
Our philosophy is that peope living with allergies must have antihistamines at hand.
Are antihistamines mostly OTC or Rx drugs? And what is the difference between old and new generation drugs?
Most antihistamines are sold over–the-counter. There are two generations of drugs on the market. The first one includes agents like Suprastin (chloropyramine). This drug has become a time-tested classic, known to every Russian, as it has been on the market for more than 50 years, which explains its popularity and high sales.
The second generation of antihistamines includes more modern formulas, such as the levocetirizine molecule, found in drugs such as Suprastinex. The second generation, which provides growth of the group, accounts for 75% of the market. This is mainly due to the fact that many companies expect to get better sales from them and advertise them more. In a sense, their popularity comes from the wide spread idea that allergies can be tamed.
And there is also a tiny niche of injectable allergy medications, which are, of course, prescription drugs. We offer Suprastin for injections. It is suitable if, for example, you need to stop a severe attack of an allergic reaction as soon as possible. Chloropyramine for injections is included in every first aid kit.
There is an opinion that new generation drugs are better than the old generation. Do you agree?
That’s not quite true. I would say that they are just used in different therapeutic strategies. For example, chloropyramine belongs to the first generation, but remains indispensable for certain types of allergies, especially those with severe symptoms. It is included in the list of vital and essential drugs in Russia. It is known to affect the nervous system and have a sedative effect. But this can also be an advantage. For example, the drug helps to relieve itching, one of the manifestations of allergic reactions. Itching often causes sleep disorders. So sedation is not always a disadvantage. Many doctors appreciate the drug for this reason, as it allows for a more pronounced clinical improvement.
Second generation drugs are based on molecules that have a softer effect on the human body. For example, levocetirizine is not metabolized in the liver. If you take the drug for 4 to 6 months, you need to minimize its impact on the liver. They are not addictive and less likely to cause drowsiness, so they can be taken during the day. In addition, Suprastinex can be given to children as young as 2 years old. It is available in drops, which is a very convenient form for younger children.
Of course, people are now seeing a lot of advertising aimed at promoting the new generation of drugs. But there is still interest in first-generation drugs.
According to analysts, the structure of drug consumption in the market is changing. For example, customers prefer larger packages. Do you see a trend like that? How does the company respond to such preferences?
Yes, indeed, larger packages are a current trend now, and not only in the pharmaceutical market. Our products are available in several packaging options: 7, 14 and 30 pills. We launched the pack of 30 tablets last year. It is ideal for those who prepare for the pollinosis season and want to buy sufficient quantity at an attractive price. We understand that because of inflation people are more price concious. But there is another reason for choosing large packaging: it is about compliance to therapy. We all multitask, and sometimes we don’t have time to go to the pharmacy once again. So many people find it more convenient to buy a larger pack of a medicine, and this is especially true for people with seasonal allergies.
We are seeing an increase in demand for large packages, but small formats also remain important. They are more in demand outside of allergy season. We do not plan to abandon small forms, as we believe that drugs should be affordable and available for every need. As for larger packaging, I believe the preference gives us an opportunity to launch a new size.
What new antihistamines are being developed in the world, and what products is EGIS working on?
Allergic diseases are one of the key areas for EGIS. In the coming years, we will expand our portfolio of over-the-counter medications. So far, this topic has been a bit commercially sensitive, so I’ll just say that we have plans to develop our portfolio of antihistamines. And we are closely monitoring the innovations that emerge in the world in this area.
Researchers are focusing on the ways to prevent the onset of allergies. With half of the planet suffering from allergies in the future, it is crucial to look for preventive measures. How can we prepare for the allergy season to suffer less from pollinosis? We hope that soon the answer to this question will be found and new drugs will appear that will prevent the disease rather than just reduce the symptoms. Scientists are still looking for a cure for allergies, we’ll live and see if they are available in the future.
We are proud of our expertise in allergology. Our goal is simple and ambitious at the same time: we want to ensure that each of our patients can breathe deeply at any time of the year, enjoy nature, spend quality time with their family and live a full and active life without allergies.