Merck's dust mite allergy tablet expected to reach market in 2017

NEW YORK — Danish pharmaceutical group Alk Abello, in association with Merck, expects to start selling its new dust mite allergy tablet in the United States in 2017, according to a Reuters report published Thursday. 

House dust mite-allergy is associated with allergic asthma and affects more than 30 million Americans.

Alk CEO Jens Bager told Reuters that studies in Europe and Japan show Alk's HDM SLIT-tablet is able to reduce dust mite allergy symptoms significantly. 

Alk and Merck are developing tablets for pollen and grass allergies as well as the dust mite treatment, the report noted.