Hayfever tablet set to benefit thousands

TENS of thousands of people in England are set to benefit from a new treatment that provides long-term relief for the symptoms of hayfever.

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Betula verrucosa, sold under the brand name Itulazax 12 SQ-Bet and made by Alk-Abello, is an under-the-tongue immunotherapy tablet that contains birch pollen extract.

The drug trains the immune system to tolerate tree pollen over three years of daily use.

It has been recommended as an option on the NHS for people whose hayfever symptoms persist even after taking antihistamines or using nasal sprays, by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).