Reproduction and juvenile animal toxicology studies in the rat with a new allergy vaccine adjuvanted with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL ®) for the treatment of grass pollen allergy

► Pollinex ® Quattro Grass is a vaccine for treatment of symptoms caused by pollen. ► Its reproduction and juvenile animal toxicology were examined. ► Subcutaneous injection to pregnant rats caused no maternal or reproductive toxicity. ► Subcutaneous injection to rats from 3 weeks of age showed no signs of toxicity. ► Both studies support safe clinical use of the allergy vaccine. Pollinex ® Quattro Grass has been developed for the prevention or relief of allergic symptoms caused by pollen in both adults and children. Reproduction and juvenile animal toxicology studies have been performed. Subcutaneous injection on Day 14 prior to pairing and on Days 6 and 13 of gestation to pregnant rats at 2000 SU/0.5 mL elicited no signs of maternal or embryo-foetal toxicity. Mating, fertility, fecundity and pup parameters were all unaffected by treatment. Once-weekly subcutaneous administration at ascending doses of 300, 800, 2000 and 2000 SU/0.5 mL followed by a 4 week non-dose period to juvenile rats from 3 weeks of age showed no signs of obvious toxicity. As in a previously performed adult animal toxicology study with the vaccine, not unexpected, but relatively minor, immuno-stimulatory effects were seen in this study along with injection site reaction which can largely be attributed to the presence of tyrosine in the formulation.